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^ THF. 

RETIRED CHRISTIAN 



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y EXERCISED IN 



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\ 



DIVINE THOUHTS 

AND 

HEAVENLY MEDITATIONS- 
By THOMAS KEN, D.D. 

BISHOP OF BATH AND WILLS. 



LONDON: 



PRINTED FOR HAMILTON, ADAMS AND CQ. 
33, PATERNOSTER ROW. 



MDCCCXXXI. 



\ 
\ 






A. K. BINNf, PKlNTIBi CHIAT ITIilKT, BATH. 



CONTENTS. 



ThB CONTEMPIiATION, 

Of Solitude 1 

Of our Saviour's love to us 19 

Of the Joys of Heaven 3$ 

Of the Contempt of the World 6] 

Of the holy Eucharist 9 

Of the 8u£ferings of Hell 11 

-' «««r^nrinfir Strictly 



tit: 



'^^^e^) 



^//^ 




fr»«v °: '■"■■ 



Vv 









th, 



> C;> 



C^ Of 







OF SOLITUDE. 

iiiig sent Iiither, which was nottht^^. 
igerly to look after the comfor^-^ 
id enjoyments of the world, and 
t up my rest and habitation here, 
it to fit myself for a life of glory, 
id to prepare for the eternal enjoy- 
cnt of my God. 

When I take a serious view of my 
'e past, I cannot but wish (instead 
luxury and vain delights) it had 
'.en all laid out in the sincere prac- 
:e of piety and devotion. How- 
'cr 9 since 1 have been hitherto care- 
ss in the duties of religion , and too 
lamefuUy negligent of that happi- 
iss above for which I was originally 
isignedy I will now, before it be too 
te, endeavour, if possible, to ratrieve 
e )oBB, and try if I can bid adieu to 
se 5ei79ual pleasures andwoAiSX^ 




OF HOMTtlDG. li 

triRes, wliicli of themscWes ifill very 
shortly bid adieu lo me. 

Retire therefore, O my souU from 
the busy world, and employ thyiHilf 
^QDt that for wliich tliou vrert crr- 
mted, viz., the coiitem plat ion of thy 
God. I will haBten to my closet, or 
yonder solitary walk, and there, se- 
questered from the vexatious world, I 
wilt not suffer a single thought of it 
to approocii me, unless by way of 
pity and contemjit. The world and 
I are fallen out, and parted; and mc- 
tbinks this solitary place becomes a 
iHtnished man, whose company is in 
no wise suitable to the greatest part 
of mankind, and such whose bamoxr 
and gaiety agree not with tiie de^th 
of meditation, and tbe mnX&'os^f^'^ 
prospect ot another voiVA. 




OF SOLITUDE. 

low delightful is it, O my soul 
thee to enjoy this sweet comniL?- 
n with thy God, and thus to dwell 
»n divine objects ! I am here safe 

at rest in this dear place of quiet, 

earnestly pity all the men of 
iness and hurry, whose heads are 

of perplexing contrivances, to 
cure a little happiness in a world 
ire there is no such thing. 
) ye kings and emperors ! did ye 
conceive the spiritual sweetness 
his devout privacy, and theravish- 
delights of these serene hours of 
templation, you would quickly 
aside your troublesome greatness, 

exchange your grandeur for the 
D delights of this retired silence ; 

jDHtead of an ambitious pursuit 
'£r/orf hertf and the eiAvrgttat^x 



OF SOLITUDE. 5 

of your crowns 9 you would choose to 
meditate on the greatness of a hea> 
venly kingdom, and the glories of an 
immortal crown. 

How pleasant, O God 1 is this re- 
tirement, where thou vouchsafest thy 
presence to crown the delight, and 
reward my banishment from the 
world ! Farewell, then, ye nauseous 
and deceitful pleasures ; farewell, ye 
riches, and all your alluring tri6es, 
ye shall no longer hold me, for I will 
break the chains of my slavery, and 
fly to my Redeemer, whose invita- 
tions I can no longer resist, and 
whose embracing arms are spread 
wide open to receive me. O blessed 
freedom I O charming solitude ! I 
will grasp you, I wiW \vo\Sl^wjl\^sX> 
tbe deUghtB of Bilence wi^ x^x«."«^\ ^ 



ji 



6 OF 80LITUDB. 

will no more leave this my Caiiiuiti 
for the flesh-pots of Egypt : I am 
DOW happily escaped from three cruel 
task-masters, the world, the devil, 
and the flesh ; and shall I return and 
he a slave again ? Didst thou ever, 
() my soul ! find that calmness in the 
midst of husiness and hurry ; that 
freedom in quarrels and vexation ; 
that complacency in disputes and 
wranglings ; that peace in passions 
and disturbances; and, in a word, 
that quiet and senerity in the noisy 
world, which, in this close retreat, 
and in these ravishing contempla- 
tions, do now entertain my delighted 
tboaghts t Here I can unburtben 
my soul, uid pour it out before my 
God. Here I can wrestle with Uw 
powers of beaven, and not VeX^^nm 



OF SOLITUDE. / 

go till I have obtained a blcssinp;. 
Here I can confess my sins, and with 
hopes of comfort, lay open my trou- 
bled breast beforethe merciful Hearer 
of my prayers. Here I can with tlic 
deepest humility implore his pity, 
with my cries call down his mercy, 
and with my penitent tears disarm 
him, and dispel the storms of that 
anger, which would otherwise con- 
sume me. Here I can clearly ])cr- 
ceive the poverty of the rich and 
honourable, who are busv in exchan- 
ging tlieir salvation for a tri6e. I can 
here divest myself of the errors and 
false lights that lead the worlding 
into wrong conceptions of a life of 
piety and humiliations, and can easily 
now perceive the real ha^^iue^s v\^ 
ike despised followers o^ xNv^ v;^- 



» OP SOLITUDE. 

fcniigf JcBiis : I can now discover y- 
more beauty and loveliness in pioi^^ 
rags, then 1 could ever find in all the 
glittering follies of the proud. 

O ye blessed, ye retired hours ! 
why fly ye so swift away ? Why so 
hasty to be gone ? x\re ye then, like 
other pleasures, short and transient? 
O that ye were eternal, that I might 
have my fill of quietness, and be per- 
petually thus sequestered from the 
vain converse of busy men ! But 
since these happy hours, and my 
life itself is so very short, I will mnke 
the best of it, and employ it all in 
the pleasures of thinking and doing 
well. 

O my Lord ! what need was there 

that thou shouldest command me to 

enter into my closet? The de\\|;Vi\.% 



OTf SOLITl/DE. 9 

which attend the enjoyment of thee, 
my God, in private, and the contem- 
plations of thy beauty, are surely 
inviting enough to oblige me not 
only to enter into my closet, but to 
stay me there 6xed and unmoved, 
and wholly taken up with thy glories. 
O ye mighty men, ye rich, ye honour- 
able, ye worldings ! all come hither 
and taste but one hour s enjoyment 
of a solitary communion with the 
Almighty, and you will soon forsake 
your glories, your titles, and all your 
earthly interests, and quickly be 
enamoured with the lives of the re- 
tired Baints, who have wisely left the 
chase after riches and pleasures here, 
to pursue immortal crowns of glory 
ready for them at the ew^ ol ^€\x 
/Amt and Aappy race \ 



.■i...W «••■«■• •«« 



meut io the wilderneRs: He n 
tempted, indeed, but he overcaii 
and bow glorious was the triump 
the angels came and ministered ui 
liim. It was a great appcaranc 
but he that forsakes the conversati 
of the world, is a companion only 
fur angels, whose time is, like b 
employed in the contemplation 
their great Creator. Think up 
thy Saviour, O my soul ! when 
went up into a mountain by himst 
to pray, and continued all night 



OF SOLITUDK. 1 1 

high devotion inspired his heavenly 
Houl in his retirement, where, se- 
cure from the officious crowd of ad- 
mirers, and the disturbing world, he 
could more freely enjoy the blessed 
presence of the Deity, and an uiiin> 
terrnpted converse with his Father 
and the blessed Spirit ? 

What lively and sensible enjoy- 
ments of God's presence, O my soul ! 
have blessed the solitudes of retired 
saints ! Thus devout and heavenly 
Daniel ; thus fervent Peter ; thus 
John, the beloved disciple of my 
Lord ; thus all the inspired prophets, 
apostles, and blessed saints and her- 
nitB, were taken up with visions of 
glory, and scenes of their future hap- 
pioess, even before they put on im- 
mortality. 



OF SOLITUDE. 



How delightful and ardent were 
the raptures ! How blessed, how 
comfortable, were the communica- 
tions of Grod, which entertained their 
heavenly souls in their private medi- 
tations, and retired prayers ! How 
distant were they from the Spirit of 
the world, whilst they neglected and 
despised the grandeur of it, to medi- 
tate and converse with their God in 
private ! But their labour was not 
loss ; for no sooner had they aban- 
doned the world, but God requited 
them with foretastes of the joys 
above, and sent them an earnest of 
those unutterable glories which they 
now enjoy. O great reward of soli- 
tude ! may I be ever thus secluded 
from the world, and pretended hap- 
piness of it, so I might enjoy a elose 




OF SOLITUDE. 13 

and vigorous communion with my 
dear Redeemer ! 

What is there upon earth, O my 
soul ! that may tempt thee to foregfo 
this welcome privacy, and the happi- 
ness which 1 here enjoy, retired from 
the conversation of the world? What- 
ever company I come into, the usual 
subject of the discourse is triflinjif 
and empty. The time is thrown away 
about news, and idle surmises of men; 
about the state, or about a dull dis- 
course of improving wealth, and all 
the sordid maxims of heaping^ up, 
and becoming* rich here, and for ever 
miserable hereafter. The men of 
pleasure shall have a long harangue 
about the sport to which they are 
most addicted, and please themselves 
with a description of the pleasure 



14 OF 80LITUDB. 

which takes up most of that tir^ 
that, God knows, was given themfj// 
another end. Our ladies and men 
of gallantry shall talk very eagerly of 
the newest fashions, and loudly hoast 
of their own impertinencies. Alas ! 
they are all out of the way : None of 
all this, O my soul ! will bring thee 
nearer to thy God: "Come not then 
into their secret, unto their assembly, 
mine honour, be not thou united.'* 

Now, can men that have anv 
thought of heaven, and the blessed 
mansions there, that have souls great 
and noble enough to converse with 
angles and God himself, can they 
stoop to such conversation, such 
company, such discourse as this ? 
And yet this is generally such as the 
world affords. Take U, t\\^T\, i« 



OP SOLITUDE 

worldings, and hold itl 
rob you of none of it, b 
moment I retire to my 
my God, jind thence I 
all ye earthly thoughts, 
ye not to disturb my soul 
converse, in her contei 
the saints aboye, and t\ 
the madness of the world 
Dear Saviour, how d 
the truth are men*s cot 
the retired followers of t 
of thy cross, as if they le 
and insig^ficant life, ; 
away their time without 
to the world ? But are 
and daily intercessions oi 
▼enly recluses no ways b 
avert the judgments of 
conBuming the careless n 



16 OP SOLITUDR. 

iuiquties? Take them out of the^//. 
cells and oratories, and see if tli^^^ 
are not disposed to the practice of 
the severest and the most heroic 
virtues of the Christian life. None 
triumph over afflictions with a nohler 
courai^^e; none despise the crosses 
and hardships of the severest trials, 
or undergfo the miseries of poverty, 
and all the difficulties of the cross, 
with a more primitive zeal, than 
these coQUtant followers of their suf- 
fering Lord. Great saints on earth ! 
how happy are the lives ye lead ! 
How dear in the sight of God are 
your tears of penitence, and the 
solitary sighs with which you pierce 
the merciful ears of that Saviour 
whose steps ye follow, and wiUi 
whom ye dmly con?erBQ \ O \)ii%x I 




OF SOLITUDE. 17 

might be admitted a partner in your 
holy solitude ! that I might have 
grace to reach the celestial contem- 
plations that entertain your aspiring 
souls ! How glad, O God, should I 
be to be inspired, if not with their 
profound piety and happy employ- 
ments, yet at least with a due reve- 
rence to these blessed saints ! If I 
cannot soar up to their perfections, 
let me, however, with the humble 
woman in sacred writ, be a servant 
to wash the feet of the servauts of 
the Lord. 



THB PRATBR. 

O MT God ! let the consideration 
the emptiness of plca^vit^.^- ^ vW. 
mblcB and misery o^ tvv\\^.^^ \v\n^ 

c 



18 OP SOFilTUDE. 

the shortness and vanity of ^j 
things in the world, inspire me \f^rith^ 
due contempt of all enjoyments herc^ 
below ; and make me ever fly theses 
hinderances to a life of holiness ancT 
virtue, that I may with the greater 
freedom enjoy thee, O my God ! in 
meditating on thy perfections, and 
thy glories : Let me, dearest Jesus, 
have those influences of thy blessed 
Spirit in my retirements, that I may 
at last grow wholly weary of the 
world, and then fix my thoughts 
upon that heavenly kingdom, where 
true pleasures, fulness of riches, and 
lasting honours, are only to be met 
withal ; whither let thy mercy speed- 
ily bring me, that I may be satisfied 
with the fulness of thy presence, and 
medkhie for ever on thy gt^ifc V^- 



OP OUR saviour's lovb, btc. 19 

fections, joining; with all the glorious 
attendants on thy throne in endless 
songs of thy eternal praises. Amen. 



OF OUR saviour's LOVB TO Ui. 



SiNCB, then, my soul, thou hast 
left this world, and settled thy de- 
light upon the heavenly solitude, let 
us now contemplate on thy Saviour, 
and consider the wonders of his 
adorable love. For what can be more 
apt to raise my aspiring thoughts 
above the world, or add to the de« 
lights of this dear retirement, than 
the contemplation of divine charity, 
and the immense love b>] ^V\^X 
AMfe been redeemed, «itvA Vvq^^ Vex^.- 



20 OF UUR SAVIOURS 

aft or to be saved? Sure such l«.»fY; 
as {\\\a is wurtli tliiiikiii^ on, i^uf/ 
s:ratilu(Ie as well as pleasure should 
inflame my soul with a desire to me- 
ditate on the astonishing love of the 
8nviour of the world. But where 
shall I begin ? I doubt I have under- 
taken a task too mighty for me, for 
his love was from eternitv, and had 
no beginning. However, I will ven- 
ture to contemplate the dear affec- 
tion of my Lord, who will pardon the 
defects of mj grovelling thoughts; 
for they can never reach the least 
ivct, much less the eternity, of his 
love. 

See, O my soul ! the fatal effect of 
the tempters malice ! JiO, the for- 
bidden fruit is down, it is eaten, 
^'Modwcarephst recovery V St^Wvt, 



LOVB TO US. 21 

pale, tbe ghastly look of thy undone 
parents, how the guilty rebels fly the 
face of their offended Maker I What 
hast thou done ? says their angry 
God, and then denounced their dis- 
mal sentence, which condemns them 
first to banishment, and then to death. 
Bat Is there not a remedy, is there 
not a repricTe ? must the doom be 
irreversible, and the death eternal? 
Is there no favourite in the court of 
heaven to intercede and stave off the 
anger of their offended Lord ? Must 
our blood, must our lives, pay for this 
offence ! And must the justice of God 
be satisfied for this contempt and 
violation of his great command? 
There must, I see there must, be a 
bloody sacrifice ; but tbetv ^\\^\^ v& 
t&e Umb for a buriit«oSmtv%*^ ^^^ 



22 OF OUR SAVIOURS 

yonder, O my soul ! turn thy eyes ^ 
the great court of heaven, see the re 
the Deity itself suinpf out thy pardon ! 
" Behold the Lamb iherei^MX, taketh 
away the sins of the whole world !'* 
The very King himself whom thou 
hast contemned, the King whose 
command was violated, will not only 
seal thy pardon, but, to redeem thee, 
and satisfy offended justice, will sub- 
ject himself to sufferings and death. 
It is determined, O my soul, that the 
second Person In the glorious God- 
head should leave his throne and 
kingdom, to take upon him both the 
guilt and dreadful punishment of 
thy sins. O my God ! O sacred 
Trinity ! O mercy itself, unbounded 
mercy ! will God himself come down 
sad die ? WiW no meaner an olSe^ii^ 




be accepted? Will not on angel's, nut 
thebeloTed Gabriel's blood, (should 
he take our nature on this great 
DCcaBioa,)yea, will not theiucarnatioii 
and death of the whole host of heaven, 
atone for this ? But must God bim- 
aelf come doim and bleed? Ye 
angdf, ye blessed seraphim, and all 
the glorious spirits above, why do ye 
not offer to redeem the Kedeenier of 
the world ? Why do ye not alt desire 
to become flesh and blood, and then 
pour it out on so many crosses, ra- 
ther than to suffer Ood to become a 
sacrifice to himself? O my soul I it 
must not be; an an^l, yea, all the 
heavenly choir are too mean for this 
mighty work, they are scarcely able 
ao much as to peneinXfe mW **»» 
gnad myitery o£ I'h'j ieAMa\J&a** 




vhole we ^^^ ^g, 

do\t»g ««<"*' '• How ft 

• »<>« °^ ^° *e fir«t • 
charity w»« ^. je -,« p» 

of »"»'•'" ItW, »*^*' 
,15 sleepy «"'^'*' 



LOYB TO US. 25 

it from its approaching ruin, was the 
first and main concern of my Lord, 
and was the tenderest instance of a 
God-like love; *' Repent, for the 
kingdom of heaven is at hand." O 
dead, O stupid world! I have left 
yonder high regions of bliss on pur- 
pose to warn you, and to turn away 
the impending vengeance of my of- 
fended Father. Slight not, then, my 
kindness, but repent, if not from fear 
of his displeasure, yet at least in re- 
quital of my love. 

Tlie next account of thy Lord, O 
my soul I is his preaching on the 
Mount: where we find him busy in 
instructing his followers in the prac- 
tiae of divine love, with which he 
cencludes his holy sermou t]l3L«^t^\ 
''Lorn yoar enemies \ Olo ^e^sA v» 



26 OP OUR saviour's 

them that hate you.*' lliis was th^ 
true spirit of love indeed ; and w^ 
mav well obey this holy precept, O 
my Lord ! since thou hast set such 
an example, and hast been so exact 
a pattern in the highest acts of love 
to thy most bitter enemies. 

Thou didst cure diseases ; thou 
didst cast out devils ; thou didst ex- 
hort and with the greatest earnestness 
entreat sinners to be saved; thou 
didst call down blessings, aud avert 
judgments, aud all this for thy mur- 
derers ! This was such love, as thou 
thyself art the only example of since 
the world beg^n : To give sight to 
the blind , hearing to the deaf, strength 
and soundness to the diseased, and 
comfort to the afflicted, were the 
daily ucts of liis boundle%% \ot«\ 



This, my soul, was the life of God ; 
thus was his love manifested before 
the great aud dreadful instance of it 
at his death, which thou art now to 
reflect upon, for it is near. 

Wliat tender rhetoric does the 
hearenly Jesus use to persuade his 
diBclples to a mutual loye, from the 
consideration of his own ? ** Love one 
another, as I loved you. As the 
Father loved me, so have I loved 
you ; continue ye in my love." And 
again, "This is my commandment, 
that ye love one another, as I have 
loved you :'* Thus earnest was my 
dear Redeemer to remind his fol- 
lowers of the greatness of his love, 
before he left them, and finished his 
mighty work upon the cross. 

Come then, my soul, draw near, 



TivuA a lUTCy wnon Ii6 eoMM 
weight of his fathers asfffA 
death 9 to purchase for thee a 
of life. 

ISehuId, Judas approaches f 
kiss of treachery to betray his 
certainly, my Lord, thou catic 
but resent this, as an unnatural 
ness in thine own disciple, thi 
murder thee with a kiss : yes 
soul, see how the Lord resents 
horrid affront to his sacred Per 
<<and Jesus said unto him, Fri 
wherefore art thou come ?" O. 



I.OTK TO VS. 29 

ployed in so black a piece of tri;a- 
chery ? After this, heaveDly Peter, 
uncouraged by n hasty zeal, wounded 
one of those tliat curnc to scixc hid 
Lord ; but the love of Jesus was as 
great as Peter's zeal, and ([uiekly 
healed the wound. Such an esaniple 
of divine pity might have stopt the 
fury of the crowd : But these are 
only preliminaries to the great and 
drendfol scene of love which follows. 
For my Lord ia hurried away to 
to the court, and there, amidstall the 
indignitJea of an insolent rabble, his 
tender love and meekness were as 
conspicuous as their malice ; for he 
■nffsred himself to be led "aa a 
lamb to the elaug^bter ; and as a sheep 
before the shearers is dumb, bo opened 



30 OF ouK saviour's 

Ascend, O ray soul! to Golgotha, 
the fatal mount of love ; go thither 
with thy condemned Lord; for be- 
hold they now lead him to the dismal 
place, to try if the prospect of a cruel 
death can wear away his patience, 
and tire out his love. O my Grod ! 
whither will thy love carry thee? 
Hast thou not then already given 
sufficient tokens of thy endearing 
kindness to the sons of men? But 
must thou still go on to suffer the 
tortures of a bitter death, to connnce 
us of it? 

The farther I ascend in tMs amaz- 
ing consideration of thy love to the 
ungrateful world, the more does the 
wonder crowd in upon my full charged 
thoughts. O the burden of thy love ! 
Give, OGod, give. a BuUabVt q%^«.« 



LOTB TO UB. 31 

city to my labouring' thouf^hts, or I 
ithall be overvbelraed and quickly 
luEt in the contemplation of tliy lore, 
in tby dolorous paBsion. See, my 
revifihed sout, thy Lord is even nov 
appeaBiDg the dreadful anger of the 
Deity, and reconciling' his offended 
Father to the sinful vorld ! See, bis 
very posture on the cross is a lively 
representation of his love ; hi« arms 
are there extended forth, if the fast- 
ening nails would but suffer him, and 
give scope to the fervour of hie love 1 
Behold the streams of love trickle 
down tbe precious wounds, and lie iti 
now bleeding out bis lore at his 
bands and bis pierced feet ! The 
sluices of God's love are open ; stick 
fut, Btick close, my thirsty sout, to 
thKM deep wounds of attractive love ! 



32 OF OTR RAVI OU US 

Take in flic prcciuus juice, und le t 
none full asitli' ! Einbracr, embrace , 
thy bleeding fiurd, and expire with 
liim in an act of love I Ye scarlet 
ilrops of my Lledcemcr's love, distil 
upon my soul ! Let me here be fixed 
under these dear wounds, O my 
God ! for the contemplation of this 
love is heaven, it is heaven, and I will 
bave no other ! Retreat, O my soul ! 
in time retreat, aiui trust thyself no 
longper to tiie heat with which thiB 
wonder doth inspire thee. A deep 
contemplation of God's love upon the 
cross, will end in a passionate ferment 
of amazing tlioughts. A too near 
approach to his flaming love, will 
(with the zeal of fervent David) burn 
thee up. Since, then, my Lord and 
/"jr Urod, thy love in thcBC tV^ wi- 



LOVE TO US. 33 

feriiigs is so great, that I iluibt not, 
presume to reach it by expression, 
let me ever admire it with a due 
terror and a sileut reverence. O 
blesBed thief upon the cross, who 
didst partake of the bounty of his 
dying love, ** This day shalt thou be 
with me in Paradise l* The bitter 
pains he felt ; the reproaches and 
disturbances of the clamorous multi- 
tude ; the shame of his ignominious 
sufferings, and all the dismal circum- 
stances of horror that did surround 
his dejected soul, could not stop the 
force of his love to this blessed con- 
vert ; ^'Father, forgive them, for they 
know not what they do." 

How diffused is the love of Jesus ! 
For us to forgive an Vn^ut^ , iVv^w^ 
done by chance, ia accoutiUOi ^^^^.^"^ 



i 



34 OF OUR SAVIOURS 

and jB^enerous ; but to forgiri 
which 18 done out of spite and n 
18 the top of perfection, and b 
do reach it. But these mur 
were such as had before tasted 
love of Christ, and yet they r 
him with a cruel and infamous c 
but neither the thoughts of thi 
the smart of his wounded bodi 
nor yet the continuance of thei 
lice, could hinder his amazing 
from entreating his Father in be 
these bloody wretches. Hence 
my soul, to imitate this hig^h p 
of thy SaTiour*8 love, in forgivi 
utmost injuries of thy bitter em 
But DOW behold my Lord ex] 
but is his lifis fimshed ? Yes, 
sou) ! the life Indeed of thy Lc 
£aiahed, but nol hit love : O > 



lie asBureu lus uiBcipies*, luaL " iie 
would not leave them comfortless ;'* 
and he seems in haste to perform it; 
in the midst of a sorrowful assembly 
he appears, and immediately blesses 
them with a tender salutation of his 
love ; ** Peace be unto you ; as my- 
Father bath sent, me so send 1 you;" 
and then he breathed on them, and 
said unto them, ** Receive ye the 
Holy Ghost ; whose sins ye remit, 
they are remitted,'* &c. O blessed 
aposUes of the Son of God, who had 
iike spirit of his love thus shed abroad 



■# 



I 



36 



OF OUR SAVIOURS 



on their enlarged hearts ! O happy 
Christian world I happy indeed, if 
not ungrateful : how great was this 
love of your Redeemer, to leave this 
power with the ministers of his love, 
to absolve their penitent souls from 
the burden of those sins which would 
render you objects of eternal suf- 
ferings I 



THE PRATER. 



I 



O God, my Saviour and my Lord, 
Grant, I beseech thee, that the con- 
templations of thy dear love may ever 
inspire my inflamed heart with the 
most zealous return of love to thee, 
my God, and with the most fervent 
chMrhy to all the members of thy 
AoJjr cLurcb, whether tVie^ w* \fti 



LOVE TO US. 37 

friends or my causeless enemies. O 
let me never, by the coldness of my 
affection to my neighbours and fellow- 
cliristians,make me unworthy of that 
love of thine which has nowemployed 
my meditations ; and since without 
charity, no other virtue or religfious 
duty is acceptable in thy sight, let it 
be my daily exercise to attain it, that 
at length I may be a perfect proficient 
in the school of love« and my humble 
soul may breathe out nothing else, 
that no provocation or affronts of 
the most wilful malice may ever stir 
up in me the spirit of revenge, or 
abate my charity ; but let this celes- 
tial fire of heavenly love ever burn in 
my fervent breast upon earth, till it 
is perfected at last in the VA«%««\ x^- 
f^0D8 of eternal love . KiueiW* 






38 



TUB JOTS OF HBAYBN. 



Why art thou so timoroas, O my 
soul ? Why thus fearful to approach 
the darling glories that are above ? 
I know thou canst never, with the 
utmost elevation of thy thoughts, 
reach the least of those joys which 
** it never entered into the heart of 
man to conceive \* An inspired apos- 
tle lias confessed his incapacity to 
describe them ; much less can it ever 
be expected that I, with this earthly 
tabernacle about me, should raise my 
meditation so high, as to shadow out 
the smallest enjoyment of that king- 
dom of eternal glory. I will enter- 
tdn myself, however, (tliough at this 
^/jfAty diaUnce,) with a ptOB^^t. ol 



THE JOTS OF HKAVEN. « 



the heavenly Canaan ; and as far 
my shallow capacity gives me leav 
will enjoy the promised laud b 
fore my entrance thither. Mou 
then, my soul, and, winged with tl 
most aspiring thoughts, take tl 
flight to the borders of glory, ai 
thence look down with pity on tl 
rich and honourable worms below ! 
Where am I, O my soul? In 
what paradise hast thou brought mc 
Surely this is none other than tl 
house, even the palace of God ! 
the brightness, the glorious lustre 
this place ! this is doubtless tl 
heavenly city, into which the divii 
and beloved apostle was taken, ai 
which he saw, and has described 
his great vision of revealed glorie 
Wliat he mysticaW^ ^^olV;.^ ^1 ^ 



40 THE JOYS OP HBAVEN. 

flourishing church on earth, hclon^s 
to this glorious place without a figure; 
here needs no candle, nor the light 
of the sun ; for the least of all these 
numerous spirits here is bright 
enough to enlighten a whole world of 
£gyptian darkness. If the spacious 
skv were covered, from one end to the 
other, with the brighter stars, and 
every star were a thousand times big- 
ger, more clear and sparkling, than 
ever yet was seen, this would indeed 
be a glorious sight ; but yet it all 
comes, beyond expression, short of 
the beauties of the lowest mansion 
in this heavenly kingdom. Be- 
hold the splendour of the llirone 
of God ! 

But retreat, my soul, to the con- 
temphtion of the other g\om%Vv«t^> 




TAG JDTS OP HEAVEN. 41 

more suitable to thj weak &nd dazzled 
faculties. PreBUuie lA too far, nor 
dwell too long upon this tremen- 
dous object. Thoii wilt be quickly 
lost here ; retire, tlierefore, and ap- 
proacli not too nenr this awful seat 
of glory, about ^vllich thou seest there 
the distant Rn|;elB lie prostrate in 
the humblest postures of respect and 
fear. 

O my soul I what blessed company 
is this ? Here are millions of aogel- 
■ilu spirits, no less bright and glori- 
ons than the sun. Seraphim, arch- 
aB^Ifl) patriarchs ! O glorious host 
ofhe»enl bow ramhing is this great 
society ! how spleudid each angel- 
like look appears ! What acute and 
piercing rays of glory dart from eaetv 
taming countenance \iv \\\\* *^c.x*\ 




JOTS OP HBAYBN. 

illustrious kin^, crowned 
»f ||ory, how dazzling is 

! how high and inexpres- 
I celestial grandeur ! 
ble army of martyrs ! I 
e your sufferings here, 
nmortal crowns, the great 
blood knd tortures. There 
oul ! behold the illustrious 
martyrdom on the sacred 
leavenly Stephen, their 
rtyr! How happy wert 
)mit that encircled head 
to he here bruised and 
Y the sharp and bloody 
iehold, there stands^ there 

glorified Isaiah, shining 
first and highest order of 
its. Great prophet ! thou 
rueUy sawn atander^ ^fX^ 



I 



TUB JOTS OF HBAYBN. 43 

not tkou, bat thy body only; and lo ! 
now thy abasement and bloody suf- 
fering's are tarned into triumphs of 
the highest splendour. Thou didst 
purchase that eternal diadem at the 
easy price of a holy life, and a few 
hours of torture at thy death. O 
happy exchange ! O easy purchase 
of everlasting life ! How welcome 
would my sufferings be, if men 
should take niiy body too, this sinful 
carcass, away t.o flames, racks, tor- 
tures, any thing, so I might at length 
enter these heavenly mansions of 
endless happiness, and be admitted 
to the great society of this army of 
God I O life, how tedious, how 
long and burthensome art thou to 
me* that seriously think upon the 
joys of heaven ! WeW tkv^x. '^x- 



44 THB JOTS OF HBAVBN. 

Paul, after his rapture into the third 
heaven, breathe out his passionate 
desire to depart, and be with Christ 
for ever. 

O ye glorious company of apos- 
tles ! you who here spent both your 
time and yourselves in the divine 
labours of converting souls to God ; 
how great is your reward in heaven, 
where ye now enjoy the company of 
so many blessed converts, whom yon 
preached into these regions of bliss 
and endless happiness ! How well 
have you finished your coarse, and 
kept the faith ! And how well are 
you rewarded with the promised 
crown of righteousness, before IM 
up for you, and now enjoyed by yoa I 
Holy Peter, how noble and god-like 
f thin gremt recompence o{ t\i^ i»iX 




TRB JOYS OF HEAVEN. 45 

in the service of thy dear Iiord, 
whose praises thou art now setting 
forth in unutterable songs of joy and 
gladness ! Thou didst deny him in- 
deed, but thou didst also weep bit- 
terly, and now thou art secure both 
from sinning and weeping for ever. 

O ye goodly fellowship of the 
prophets ! mysterious, awful, and ma- 
jestic, are the sacred volumes which 
you left behind you ! but how much 
greater and more excellent do these 
inspired songs of praises and halle- 
lajahs seem to be, which now employ 
your happy eternity ? You were on 
earth blessed with heavenly visions of 
God, but now you see him as he is. 
If the antepast of these joys were so 
divine and ravishing, how lueoik^'H- 
MUe are the delights oi V\i« ^^^^^ 



46 



THE JOTS OF BSAtCK. 






\f 



f 



itself ! Thy dungeon, great Jeremy, 
is here turned into a glorious palace, 
and thy lamentations into pruses, 
songs of the highest ardour, and hea- 
yenly gusts of inexpressible delight. 

O ye sacred priests of God 1 you 
who here lired up to the rules of 
your great and holy function, bow 
great are these wages for your un- 
wearied labours in your master's vine* 
yard ! How happy for you were the 
contempt and reproaches of the sen- 
sual world ! How dearly Icind and 
friendly was the scorn and insolencies 
with which you were treated here 
below ! For they haye occasioned 
these great rewards of their pains and 
sufferings, that glory, which you 
iberBeajoy with the eternal priest, 
from whom you received bot\k ^v« 



THB JOYf OF 

gifts and sacred or 
might have this car 
the true embassador 
might thus be made 
by being exercised 
contempts and abuse 
and haughty world. 
O ye primitive s 
followers of the cross 
and constancy in tl 
the tide of the most 
whose zeal resisted 
bravely triumphed o 
cruelties of heathei 
the most bloody tyra 
now are your devout 
uid your sharpest 
quited there with th 
encouraged you to ai 
^rermnce in youT p 



48 TUB JOYS OF BBAVBN. 

were iuspired with constaucy to your 
holy principles, by the hopes of that 
yery reward which now crowns all 
your sufferings with victory and e?er- 
lasting triumphs. 

O ye blessed poor ! and ye that 
were contemptible in the world ! O 
happy Lazarus, whose sores and 
ulcers here were loathed and scorned 
by the rich and wealthy ! Thy con- 
dition was despised here below, for 
thy coffers were empty of money, 

. and thou didst want homely crumbs 
to satisfy thy craving stomach : But 
O Grod, what a change is there! 
Hail, thou great sunt of eternal riches 
and crown of glory ! great favourite 
of heaven in Abraham's bosom ! how 
jua I £J]ed witii the deepest respect of 

^jrgloriea ! Not more ennie^t ^m 



THB JOYS OF HEAVBK. 49 

the rich man's damned soul in its 
cries for a drop of mercy to relieve 
him in his huming miseries, than 1 
am to think of thy eternal splendour, 
with the most ardent wishes, that I 
illay underg:o thy despised condition 
here, and feel all the misery of thy 
smarting^ sores, to be at length re* 
warded with the least part of that 
happiness wherein thou triumphest 
there beyond the reach of malice or 
contempt. 

Haily all the despised followers of 
the poverty of Jesus! he had no 
estate, he had no purchase on earth, 
uot *'a hole wherein to lay his sacred 
head*** In this you were like your 
suffering Lord ; for your treasures 
were iu heaven, where yoa now «.wy^^ 
tiiem witii an assuT^iv^t o\ ^w "stn^^- 

B 



f>0 THB JOYS OP HBAYBN. 

lasting possession ; you are now no 
longer heirs, bat actual inheritors of 
that kingdom of inexpressible wealth, 
from whence he himself has utterly 
debarred all that are encumbered with 
riches here, and place their secu- 
rity and reliance on them. What 
divine melody is this, O my soul, 
which thus charms my ravished 
thoughts ! What yigorous echos of 
joy inexpressible are these I hear ? 
These can be none other than the 
voices of angels. O the fervour of 
this joy ! as if their heavenly breast 
were unable to contain the flaming 
zeal within. Lo, how they break 
forth into the most ardent exprM- 
BioDB, and pathetic hallelojahs to your 
Creator • glory ! Hark ! what hea- 
Tenly lODg is Mn T hear? " Holy^ 



■n 



THB JOYS OF HEAVRN. 



51 



holy, holy, Lord God Almighty ! 
which was, which is, and is to come. 
Blessing, honour, power, and glory 
be unto him that sitteth upon the 
throne, and to the Lamb for ever and 
ever! 

Glorious psalmists ! how inexpres- 
sibly glad should I be to bear a part 
in your celestial concert ! O ray 
ravished senses ! T cannot, I cannot 
bear the delights and transports of 
these eternal hymns, even in a distant 
contemplation ! This continual sing- 
ing and endless praises fill the joy- 
ful place, and the whole celestial 
palace resounds with the lauds and 
glories of its King, whose enlight- 
ning presence adds to the divine 
harmony of singing angels ; the tune- 
fill feryours of each single spirit here. 



52 THE JOTS OF HSAVElf. 

are far beyond the highest attempts 
of the most skilful artists in this 
world. How sweet, then, O how 
dear and ravishing^, must so many 
thousands of these seraphic voices be, 
all joined together, and conspiring 
in their united praises and thanks- 
givings to the ever sacred Trinity, 
the adorable Godhead on the throne ! 
But tliat, O my soul ! which crowns 
all my happiness is, that it it all 
eternal, and shall last for ever and 
ever. Let me consider what eternity 
is; it is forever. Here I must stop, 
for I am already puzzled, and can go 
no farther. Cone and help me then, 
all ye arithmeticians tliat are through- 
out the world. Bfeet all together* 
and reckon up the years, the agee 
of eternity. Continue the work, and 



THE JOYS OF HBAVBN. 53 

ply it with the utmost diligence, till 
ye all die, and there be not a man of 
you left to number any more. Now 
let your innumerable figures (if pos- 
sible) be all joined together, and cast 
up by the succeeding age : nay, it 
cannot be done, there is no casting 
up this immense sum. But if it 
could be done, and all their figures 
were put together, and the total sum 
cast up, yet they have been all this 
while labouring in rain, and have not 
advanced one step to eternity ; eter- 
nity will not be one moment nearer 
to an 6Dd after all these years were 
past and gone. Ye angles of God, 
your capacities are large, and your 
apprehensions wide and capacious ; 
besides, you are in the actual pos- 
session of this blessed eternity ; tell 




54 THB JOTS OF UBAVBN. 

me, therefore, what it is ; let your 
happy experience prompt you to a 
ready ans wer to this abstruse question , 
what is eternity ? and how long^ shall 
it last ? Alas ! they all stand silent; 
the question is beyond their reach ; 
they cannot perform impossibilities, 
therefore they can never assign any 
end to eternity, because it has none. 
O eternity I mysterious eternity ! How 
great and beyond all apprehension 
art thou! How dearly welcome to 
the blessed saints in glory ! How 
desirable art thou, and yet how little 
thought of 1 Well mayest thou, O 
my soul, despise the dying pleasures 
here, and breathe after the joys 
mbove» joys so desirable as to know 
no end, never to be at a conclusion, 
Aue be always beginning, a\w«^« cov 




TUB JOrS OP HBITEN. 55 

tinuing, even for ever &ad ever I So 
liftppj indeed is this life of glory, that 
a whole age of torments here would 
lie well employed in the purcliasin^; 
the enjoyment of one day, one hour, 
in those blessed regloos. How well) 
then, is a life of the strictest punty 
laid out in the pursuit of this happi- 
ness, not for a day, uor an hour, bat 
for an endless eternity P I mi^bt 
endeavour, O my soul ! to shadow 
forth the excellency of thin life 
et«mal, by considering what it is to 
live thns happy for ten thousand mil- 
lions of ages, or some such trifle. 
But think what I can ; add never 
Ml many millions to the heap, it all 
signifies nothing ; for there is no oum- 
parison, oo proportioa, n(^u«.U.i&. 
In M word, it baa no ttni\\ cwv'i^^''^ 

i 



^ .. « «3uuia attempt m 

arther description of iti infinite Mer- 

lity, I Bhonld but wander in tlie darlc 

ill T lost myself. 

Thus blessed, and thus long^, shall 

le happy reign in gflory ! Why art 

10U, then, O my soul ! constrained 

''dwell herein M[esech,and to have 

y habitations amongst the tents of 

dar ?'' Why must this sinful clogr, 

9 earthly tabernacle, keep back my 

iring* soul, when it would fain be 

e, and fly to the eternal mansions 

gned for its abode? Well- a5«— 



^ L 



THE JOYS OF HE 



Jhtv. 57 



hearen for a time, yet it shall never 
have so great a portion of my heart, 
as to shut me out for ever. I will 
wait till my change comes ; and al- 
though my journey may seem long, 
as well as difficult, yet the glories of 
the continuing city at the end of it 
shall support me by the way, and 
inspire me with an unwearied resolu- 
tion in my race, till I win the prize, 
the glorious prize above, the immortal 
crown which I there behold laid up 
ready for me against I have finished 
my course. 

Go on then, O my soul! and cou- 
rageously perform all the duties of 
thy severe and holy calling, how diffi- 
eolt soever to flesh and blood : and 
whensoever thou art discouraged from 
m strict obedience to God*s com- 



58 



THE JOYS OF HEAVEN. 



maiids, and the strictest rules of thy 
great profession, then hring all those 
glories hack again to thy contempla- 
tion, and renew thy meditations on 
this great and endless reward, that 
will at last requite thy care, and 
crown thy victory : for neither all 
the approaches and censures of the 
careless world, nor all the seeming 
irksomcncss of a perpetual devotion, 
nor the utmost -self-denial in the vo- 
luntary loss of all worldly pleasure, 
will be able to deter thee from a 
vigorous exercise of piety and holi< 
ness, if thou hast a due respect to 
this glorious recompence of reward. 







1 -«,*,» 



THE JOYS OF HEAYBN. 59 



THE PRATER. 

O adorable and ever blessed Tri- 
nity ! whose presence fills the king- 
dom of heaven with ineffable joy and 
everlasting happiness, make me so ^ 
sensible, I beseech thee, of the vanity 
of all things here below, and the 
greatness of the joys above, that T 

may freely yield to exchange all the 
transitory comforts of this frail life, 
for the great enjoyments of that which 

18 eternal : So help me in this my 
pilgrimage, that I may not miss the 
way to life, though it be narrow, nor 
at leaat be denied an entrance into 
thy kingdom, though the gate be 
•trait : and since the deepest suf- 
ferings of this life are not to be com- 



feZb 






be thankful for mil mj affictteni 
triumph iu my sorrows here. G 
O my God ! that the certidnt 
another life, ami a due respec 
thoHe joys into which but fev 
enter, may encourage me to 
such a life here as too few do 1 
Let Die be evor ready for the < 
ing of my Lord, the Bridegrooi 
my soul ; and have my oil in 
lamp ; that when he comes, 1 



TUE CONTEMPT, ETC. 61 

Ghosty and sing eternal songs of 
thanksgiving to thee, for ever and 



ever. Amen. 



THE CONTEMPT OF TUB WORLD. 

I CANNOT but contragulate thee, 

my soul ! and exceedingly rejoice 
for the happy change thou hast made, 
in parting with the foolish pleasures, 
and despising the riches of the per- 
plexed world, to have thy whole con- 
versation in heaven, and with the 
greater freedom enjoy thy God ; and, ' 
by a life of virtue here, to prepare for 
m life of endless glory hereafter. And 

1 now find that delight and ««AiVbl^!^ 
Hon In the heavenly couy%^ \>k«%^ 



62 



THE CONTEMPT 



begun, that I am resolved to be no 
more entangled with these affairs be- 
low, so as to neglect the sure and 
most lasting joys above. No ; mil- 
lions of wealth, and full ages of mirth 
and sensual pleasures joined together, 
shall never allure or draw me back to 
the busy world again : For what didst 
thou ever find, O my soul ! in all thy 
converse in it, that could either 
satisfy thy desires, or defend thee 
from the just anger of thy offended 
God ? or from the temptations of thy 
spiritual and most bitter enemy ? I 
have indeed been earnest in the par- 
suit of whatever the world calls great 
or pleasant ; I have sought for it in 
mirth and jollity, amongst the cele- 
brated companionB of humour and 
briskness, but I quickly found myself 



OF THE WORLD. 013 

deceived ; for instead of real satisfac- 
tion, I met with little else but empty 
noise, and downright folly. This 
made me look out elsewhere, and 
seek for contentment in what mis- 
taken men call grave and solid, which 
T thought was easy to be met withal 
in the society of men of age and 
experience: But, indeed, I quickly 
found, that the subtile spirit of the 
world was mistaken for prudence, and 
that haughty reservedness passed for 
wisdom ; and I really perceived that 
the man, who, by the cunning man- 
agement of a large estate, and an 
a£fected air of greatness, makes the 
world take him for a prudent man, is 
indeed but a busy trifler, that vainly 
spends his time in seeking that which 
is of no continaance, and may (with 



64 THB CONTEMPT 

out severity or abuse) be compared t. ^ 
a child flying bladders in the air, or 
hunting butterflies. 

Leaving, therefore, these objects of 
pity (without envying their reputed 
prudence), I took myself to another 
course, and sought for that content 
in learning and disputes, which I had 
in vain sought for in heaping up 
wealth, or mirth and pleasure. I 
knew the soul of man was uaturally 
inquisitive and greedy after know- 
ledge, as well for the satisfaction as 
the credit of it ; but here I was dis- 
appointed too. I found such un- 
christian heats in controversies, such 
indecent sallies of reproach and pas- 
sion, so much disingenuous artifice 
io cover nnd eytkde the truth, rather 
^Amo undergo the shame of coiAt%^v&% 



09 T1 



aa error, that 

loan was enga| 

niucb tlie truth 

tation ; so tha 

confusion, wlie 

language, whil 

love, common 

itself, were aij 

and passion. '■ 

1 found no re 

ark of God, a 

where thou ai 

secure in the 
lights and sa< 
knows nothii 
miserahly fru 
tion in ^^ ' 



1 1 



future state,) but what was TanI 
and infimtely beneath the eoneen 
our immortal sonls. 

O foolish and distracted wor 
why all this hurry, noise, and bi 
ness? Whither is it that ye ri 
what mighty concern are ye all w 
so much earnestness in the pursuit < 
Alas ! my soul, they are busy, I s 
about their own ruin, and cage 
exchanging away eternity for te 



^/«««i 



OF Tne WORLD. 67 

tages, advising, plotting, and contriv- 
ing, till at last he has gathered up 
vast heaps of wealth, and then dies, 
and loses it all. Thus, just thus, O 
my soul! is the world employed. 
This is their mortifying the deeds of 
the body ; this is their being crucified 
to the world ; this is their using the 
world as though they used it not ; 
this is the way they take to have their 
conversation in heaven; and thus, 
just thus, was the mao employed io 
the dismal parable ; he had bags 
enough, and those well filled with 
money ; he had land in abundance ; 
his plenteous harvest had yielded him 
Ipreat stores of com, which was all 
secure in his bams ; nay, his greedy 
heart was satisfied, and confessed he 
had enough ; so that he gave over all 



THB CONTEMPT 

^hts of any further purchase or 
ion to the heap, and resolved 
to enjoy himself, and li?e mer- 
nth his plenty : ^^ Soul, take thy 
eat, drink, and be merry ;" cast 
all care and fears of poverty ; 
uture misery ; for thou art now 
e from want, and all the meagre ( 
of hardships that attend it* O 
3ul I how happy did this man's 
hours and poor tenants account 
What respect and reverence 
ley pay him ! How they cringed 
) gulden cftlf, and flattered and 
)d the condnct of his affairs ! 
1 an honest mui, pays all their 
las managed all to the best ad- 
g€, ^nth a greafe deal of care 
rudeoM. Alas ! all this could 
unie him in (be sight of that 



OF THE WORM). 69 

God, who judgeth not as man jadg- 
eth. His being honest would not 
save him, or make amends for placing 
his happiness in his wealth ; that one 
fatal error of valuing himself for his 
riches, and encumbering himself with 
them, plunged him into endless mise- 
ries, and deprived him of those trea- 
sures in heaven, which few rich men 
seek after. His heart was fixed and 
settled upon the world, his security 
was in his estate, and not in his 
God ; and so quite forgetting that he 
was but a steward, he began to call 
his master's goods his own, and to 
lay out those silver talents on him- 
self, which vrere given him to traffic 
with in deeds of charity : ** Thou 
hast goods," &c. The man little 
thought that he must give an account 



70 



THE CONTEMPT 



of what he had, and so, (like other 
rich men) fell to purchasing and set- 
ting up for himself. Now, in the 
midst of this, his Master called him 
hence : There came a terrible voice, 
that startled the secure wretch, and 
quite dashed his jollity beyond the 
help of his friends and admirers, and 
above the reach of all his wealth : 
''Thou fool, this night shall thy 
soul be required of thee ; then whose 
shall these things be ?" 

How miserable, O God, was this 
slave to riches and worldly glory ! 
Fool he was indeed, to be thus busy 
in providing for himself in this world, 
till he was called out of it, and sum- 
moned unexpectedly to the other ; to 
be all his life-time contriving how to 
find the way to eternal misery. But 



/ OF THE WORLD. J I 

insult not over him, O my soul ! nor 
over those rich brethren with whom I 
daily converse in the world ; but 
though thou mayest despise their 
wealth, commiserate their condition, 
and shed, if possible, tears of blood, 
in pity, to think of the misery they 
are hastening to : Be earnest at the 
throne of mercy for their repentance, 
that they may learn at length to put 
a less value upon what they have so 
eagerly pursued ; that they may not« 
with this miserable soul, be at last 
despised, and sent to the place of the 
unprofitable servant, where there 
shall be weeping and gnashing of 
teeth. Now, these are the men of 

.prudence and caution ! these are they 
whom the world calls great and wise ! 

.Shortsighted foolish world ! for the 



72 THE CONTEMPT 

sake of uneless bags of money here, 
to forfeit the enjoyment of God ami 
a kin<srdom of ^lorleH without end ; 
and not only so, but gravely and de- 
liberately to walk into everlasting 
flames ! Is that prudence ? Is that 
policy? Ijook down, ye worldlings, 
into the gnlph of horror, and there 
see thousands of souls, who here 
lived in splendour and greatness, now 
condemned to eternal want, and in 
Tain exclaiming agakist their own 
folly, in spending that time about 
business here, which was given them 
to work out their salvation in. Let 
the thoughts of this, O my soul ! ever 
keep thee from the pursuit of riches, 

and make thee fearful of thy condi- 
tion, if thou shouldest ever abound 

In Jthtit the world calla wealth ; lest. 



•.« % • 



OF THB WORLD. 73 

when at last I expect the reward of 
diligence in the life of glory, God 
should say to me (as he did to an- 
other), *• Thou hast already received 
thy good things.'* 

No less miserable, O my soul ! are 

they that run after the pleasures of 
the world. See and bewail the vo- 
luptuous man taking his fill of lux- 
ury and sensual delights, busy in 
contriving how to pass away the 
time in laughter and briskness, study- 
ing out recreations for the next day, 
in what company, in what sport to 
appear; when the man knows not 
before the next day comes he may be 
cited to God's tribunal, who, instead 
of the merry company he intended, 
will send him, perhaps, indeed, to his 
companions that are dead, where all 



» 



74 TH£ CONTEMPT 

their former mirth is turned into 
cries and everlasting sighs of bitter 
anguish and despair. What excuses, 
O my soul ! do men usually make for 
their many hours thrown away after 
immoderate sports and continual re- 
creations ! It preserves health, it pro- 
motes mirth and cheerfulness, and 
drives away melancholy, is allowed 
of, and practised by the generality 
of those who are accounted great 
and prudent men, and is the peculiar 
mark and distinguishing character of 
a gentleman. Thus, O my God ! is 
the strictness and severe piety of the 
primitive Christians (those who so 
well knew and considered how diffi- 
cult it was to secure the happiness 
above,) forgot, and utterly neglected. 
Thus is Cbrisdaoity itself (whose 



OF THB WORLD. 75 

character is self-denial and the cross) 
laid aside, to make way for immode- 
rate pleasures and gross delights. 
How soUcituous, O blessed apostle ! 
are men to fulfil this dismal prophecy 
of those evil times, when men should 
be '' lovers of pleasure more than 
lovers of God ?" O ye madmen I have 
ye ever read the parable of the glut- 
ton in the flames ? And is his con- 
dition there so amiable as to invite 
you to his su£fe rings ? And yet, God 
knows, if we read his story, we shall 
find but little di£ference betwixt him 
and voluptuous Christians nowa-days. 
He was rich, and fared sumptuously 
every day ; had his table covered with 
variety of dishes, and laden with 
whatever might please his own palate, 
or appear noble and splendid to his 



^1^^ 






.ft^s ; 



a,t\( 



wuot^* 



t\\e 






oi 



le** 



oti 






\ 



^»^* "-4*^«- lAieWc^' 



.\0** 



CO' 



■otow 



l»A 



*w^*' 



ttet 



co*' 



\\te 






i»o7' 



V»» 















.,.-^' 



, ISWWWa- • 



his genxact ^< 
companions of his pleasures, 
hearken to the importunity of 
common bepf^ar : tliis would h 
been contrary to good-breeding 
the fashion. In short, as we say n 
a-days,he passed away the time n 
rily; he enjoyed himself ; made 
of the blessings which God had g 
him; lived like a gentleman; 
where is the hurt of all this? 1 
speaks, thus lives the foolish wo 
But the next words will tell yoi 
hurt of all this, from the sad e 



— '^ . I 



iiu, -- ratner AonQam, nate me^vf 
n me, and send Lazarus, that he 
lay dip the tip of his Onger in water, 
nd cool my tongue, for I am tor- 
lented in this flame." This, O God, 
dismal ! this is sad indeed ! O 
retched man ! have thy pleasures 
nought thee to this at last? Can 
ly great birth and quality, can 
ly high and towering spirit, thus 
oop to beg? Can it stoop to cry 

lUS bitterlv for so mAAn an nima oa 



OP THE WORLD. 7^ 

thy land, thy great possessions, pro- 
cure this small request ? Summon 
all thy tenants, command thy numer- 
ous attendants, entreat the jolly com- 
panions of thy sports ; conjure and 
beseech them all to requite thy wont- 
ed favours, by reaching a small drop 
of water to thee in thy miseries, 
Alas ! they will not, they cannot help 
thee. Thy servants have changed 
their master, and will not come at 
thy command ; thy tenants now be- 
long to thy five brethren, the heirs 
of thy wealth, thy pleasures, and, 
perhaps, thy torments too ; and as for 
thy pleasant companions, they are 
many of them with thee : turn aside 
thy flaming eyes, and thou mayest 
see them burning, scorching, and cry- 
ing out, like thee* for mercy and a 



80 



THB CONTEMPT 



drop of water ! O my troubled soul ! 
this scene is very terrible ; and it ia 
yet more terrible to think, that many 
of thy acquaintance, who are ac- 
counted happy men, live just like 
this voluptuous man, and are like to 
suffer with him when they die. How 
full of grief is the end of this mirth 1 
how bitter the consequence of these 
pleasures ! Who but madmen would 
go down the smooth and easy way to 
certain torments and everlasting aii- 
gniish? Is it worth the while to 
suffer without end for pleasures that 
will end so soon, and leave such 
things behind them, betwixt few 
years of worldly joys, and an eter- 
nity of unspeakable sorrows ? la there 
any compariflon ? Is there any pro- 
portion? Yet these are fiiiat men 



) 

f 

OF THB WORLD. 81 

I . are so greedy after, that self-denial 
is accounted, at best, but a melan- 
choly doctrine, and beneath their 
notice. Thus we see that the two 

^ main pillars of worldly happiness, 
riches and pleasures, stand always tot- 
tering, and expose the man to ruin 
that leans upon them, and appear to 
be unsatisfying, and, in plain terms, 
contemptible. And no less trifling, 
O my soul ! is honour, beauty, and 
the fashions of the world. As for 
honour, the mighty Nebuchadnezzar 
had great titles in abundance : He 
was stiled '' the king of all nations ;*' 
and all people, nations, and Jan- 
guages, trembled and feared before 
him. This haughty prince walked 
. in his palace of Babylon, and look- 
k ing round about his stately buildings, 




82 THE CONTBMPT 

hegttn to be transported at his own 
grandeur : Is not this gfreat Babylon 
that I have built for tlie honour of 
the kingdom, by the might of my 
power, and for the glory of my 
majesty? Surely the man took him- 
self to be of a finer stem than other 
mortals ; and, indeed, the event 
shewed there was soon a great deal of 
difference betwixt him and the rest of 
the people; for he was turned out 
from the society of men, and sent to 
eat grass with his brethren, the beasts 
of the field, being whipt and driven 
ahout by the poor herdsmen, to learn 
humility among creatures as dull and 
stupid as himself ; and there he fsd 
among other brutes, till his hdn 
were grown like eagle's feathers, aw 
hii naUi like bird'i dawi. 




Afl for the rest of those tbhige, O 
my Roul ! that the world is bo gntdj 
after thej are utterly unable to yield 
any true or lasting satiafiction to tbem 
that have, or do enjoy them. Scanty 
Is subject to a thousand diaeaMB, and 
at death tarns all to loathsomeneea 
and contempt. The proudest beauty 
now alive will very shortly be abhor- 
red and shuDned by the poorest and 
mnt homely beggar. 

As for pride, and the fashiooi of 
the world, they are more vain and 
trifling than any of the rest of its 
transient follies. Wliere is the ad- 
Tantagv of my being richer cloathed 
than any of my neighbours f Will 
the wearing of mora colours, or more 
Mstiy stuffs than they, either make 
mj loul more exccUent, or my tfody 



■ «#• «/ Mvw . 



hould I be so earneit to ezpoM mm^ 
elf to the anger of God, aiid tM 
iODSure of all sober and pious (%ris^ 
:ian8, by aping all the silly modes 
of fantastic people ? These fashiooi 
change almost as often as the moon, 
and altar so fast, that there is as mud 
trouble as there is pride in folio win; 
them ; and who would be at as muc 
pains to purchase damnation ? Wl| 
would strive to enter in at the brof 
gate, where the passage is so eas 
and where admittance is daily giv 
'- '"iwt were never at h 



OP THE WORLD. 85 

usually tends to no other end than 
to gratify a vain and childish humour 
of being admired and gazed at by 
inferiors? They tell us, that pride lies 
in the heart, and not in the clothes ; 
but this is as if a man should revile 
his neighbour, and express the great- 
est hatred of him ; and when he is 
accused of the malice, should say, 
that malrce does not lie in the tongue, 
but in the heart. So that although 
the chief seat of prijte is in the heart, 
yet we can only tell when it is there 
by the outward behaviour and attire. 
But does pride lie only in the heart, 
and not at all in outward ornaments ? 
Certainly, either they that say so, or 
the prophets, are in a very great mis- 
take, who are so severe only against 
the pride of finery in apparel, that it 



doum of the Jewish ladies for so cry-« 
io; a sin. ** The Lord suth, Be-^. 
cause the daughters of Zion are 
haughty, and walk with their necka 
stretched out ; therefore it shall come 
to pass, that instead of perfumes, 
there shall be a stink ; and instead 
of a girdle, a rent ; and instead of 
well- set hair, baldness ; and instead 
of a stomacher, a girding of sack- 
cloth ; and burning inst-eadof beauty.*' 



•AT- 



OV THB WORLD. 87 

ceitful and thus danj^erous, O my 
soul ! are the enjoyments of this 
despicable world. Every thing that 
we call pleasant is sure to leave us 
at the hour of death, when we shall 
have the greatest need of help ; and 
then all that we have here placed our 
happiness in (expect the duties of 
religion) will forsake us forever;, and 
that, too, in the midst of terrors and 
distractions. Farewell, then base 
and sordid world : adieu to all thy 
pleasures, thy heaps of trash called 
wealth, and all thy despised and glit* 
tering follies. Away, ye worldly 
trifles all ; I find no satisfaction in 
the enjoyment of you ; nothing but 
the fears and disquietudes of a tor- 
mented conscience here, and the lost 
of joys infinitely beyond you here- 



r; 



:■;! 
Hi 
.1 

i 



if; 88' 

I.": 



THB CONTEMPT 



after, besides the sad experience of 
future sufferings when my life and 
you are at an end. I will hencefor- 
ward banish you my thoughts, and 
employ my invaluable time in the 
contemplation and search of plea- 
sures that are confessed on all hands 
to be satisfactory, true, and lasting, 
even the joys of that eternal kingdom 
which never fades away. Since, then, 
my Koul, this world, in its fairest pre- 
tences to what is valuable, is thus 
false and contemptible, what do I 
here ? Why am I thus busily grovel- 
ling here below in dust and ashes ? 
Why did I ever let it possess the 
least portion of my heart, or take up 
a single thought in that breast, which 
wkSy I am flure, at first desigfned for' 
a more noble guest, and made to be* 



OP THB WORLD. 89' 

the temple of the Holy Ghost? Haste, 
then, O my soul ! and be gone from 
this trash, these husks that are below, 
and fly away to thy '* Father's house, 
where there are many glorious man- 
sions," worthy of thy contempla- 
tions. 

THE PRATER. 

Grant, therefore, O God my Sa- 
viour, that I may never Imitate the 
busy world in hunting after shadows, 
and for their sakes lose the dear trea- 
sures of eternity. Suffer me, O Lord ! 
to beg my bread here, to be the scorn 
of ail men, and undergo the sharpest 
efllBCts of a life of want and misery, 
so I may at last be sure to enter into 
the -fulness of joy, the rivers of plea-- 



90 THB COMTBMPT 

surcB at thy ri^ht hand for cvcrmoT^ ^ 
Let me grasp and aspire after bigYk^r 
things than this contemptible place 
could ever yet a£Ford. Grant, I be- 
seech thee, that I may find that 
peace and contentment out of the 
noise of the disturbing world, which 
I have in yain sought after in its 
transient pleasures and enjoyments. 
And since thou hast fully assured 
me, O blessed Spirit! that it is a sad 
exchange '' to gain the whole world, 
and lose my own soul," let thy sacred 
influences assist and direct me how 
I may rather lose the whole world, 
and SKve that immortal soul. Help 
me, O Crod 1 to get an absolute con- 
queat over all the temptations of 
things temiioral that are Been^ lest 
tbey should cool the fervour of my 




I 



f 






; weuuinf^-gannenv, tMA m ha^ 
out to meet the bridegroom of mj 
il. Take care that thou appear 
B a guest, lest the Lord of the 
St should look upon thee as an 
ruder. But come away, ali things 

ready ; fly to meet thy Bride- 
•om, thy beloved, who not only 
ites thee with all the soft expres- 
IS of his love, but is so earnest for 

company, that he bids his mes« 
gers *' compel them to come in.** 
ely thou dost not stand doubtful 
;ther thou shalt en nr «««• «"•• 




THE HOLT BUOHARIS'i 

Master of the feast, who does 
passionately desire it, art the 
to be accepted another time ? 
not these delays provoke the si 
King to cry out in his anger. 
*' thou which wert in Tain hi 
shalt not taste of my supper ?*' 

Rise up thy faculties, there 
O my soul ! and consider the i 
obligations thou art under of ha 
ing to the banquet of thy I 
Think . but upon the condescei 
of the Almighty : He created i 
. and all things, out of nothing. 
• 18 a God omnipotent, and can s 
thee, and all the sinful. ions of 
into the neth««'^'"'' 



lis Dounty to 
rified beings^ withoot tokiof muj ^^ 
tice of a worm; and yety behold I 
thou art invited, amongst ^e first, 
and thy company so much desired, 
that he makes every things stay for 
thy comings ; so great is the conde- 
scension of my God ! Can I add to 
his happiness by partaking of his 
bounty ? Is it not for my own sake 
that he is thus pressing and earnest 
for my appearance at his heavenly 
table? and yet he stoops to solicit 
-*-«apnce, and even entreats m( 



mKiii/ wiiiii an auceiis ui jvy* 

Here is that which conveys grace 
to the soul, and nourishes my faith, 
and all other virtues, to that degree, 
as to make me a new creature, and 
fit me for the real presence of my 
Lord in his eternal kingdom. Here 
18 that which ratifies the promises of 
Grod, applies the merits of my Re- 
deemers death to my soul ; and, in 
a word, seals the pardon of my sins. 
Here is that which will make me in 
a manner the receptacle of my God* 
for he will come unto me, and make 



96 THE HOLY EUCHARIST. 

light of angels. Reflect again upon 
the honour, O my soul ! that is con- 
ferred upon thee : wliere thou art 
called to sit down, whilst the angels 
do hut stand by and silently admire 
at those sacred mysteries which thou 
art actually to partake of. These 
heavenly spirits cannot penetrate into 
the wonderful and spiritual conver- 
sion of bread and wine into the body 
and blood of thy dying Saviour ; 
and yet this is certainly done for 
thee, if thou receivest it with a lively 
faith, and dost apply the benefits of 
it to thyself, by a life of piety and 
devotion. I am here called to eat 
and drink in the presence of the 
great God, who does really convert 
himself, in the merits of his death 
M«d passion, into my bou\, 1\\to>\^\ 



/ 

I'y compassion, td ""^ *» »4e 

not enough fl *'" '•""our ? t '" 
from »/.„ , ^°'' t/iee to » ^"^ 't 

great n,a„. "le pon,. ^ 

"«" here !,.„. „ ""• ^"Xur^ . 



TUB HOLY EUCHARIST. 

li^her quality, even the saints of 
ind God himself, 
^els do attend whilst I sit down! 
, my Lord ! what a grand favour, 
^n unspeakable honour, is this to 
shful servant ? But here must 
compliments. Accept it, there- 
3 my soul ! and approach this 
f of thy Lord with all the thank- 
^erence of au humble guest. 
\y soul ! how am I oblij^ed, in 
ide to my Saviour's love upon 
9SS, to be frequent in the corn- 
nation of it ? He there suffered 
f to be stabbed, and pierced 
:h the most tender parts, for my 
He there trod she wine*press 
Father's displeasure, and in the 
angnith of his departing soul, 
at, he had foT««\Ltik\\vm» T^« 




THB. HOLT EUCHARIST. 

isgrace, as well as the tormenti 
is cruel death, together with 
willingness to endure all this for . 
redemption, are such instances of Ic 
even in this invitation, too, as call 1 
the highest expression of gratitud 
and a thankful acceptance of the pro 
fer. Shall the great Judge of heave 
and earth come down from the bend 
and sue to the malefactor, both to I 
released from his chains and to b< 
come his guest? And shall I, t\ 
malefactor, boldly thrust him froi 
me, and not rather accept th^ ^'-^ 
favour on m^ **' 



100 THE HOLY BUCIIARIST. 

my polluted soul, bids me come to the 
fountain of life, and there wash and 
be clean. If, then, I reject this tender 
instance of his care for my welfare, 
shall I not indeed be a monster of 
ingratitude? Shall I ever deserve 
another offer of his love ? But, above 
all, consider, O my soul ! it is thy 
Lord and Master's positive command, 
that that shouldst frequent his table, 
and there join in the commemoration 
of his death. '* This do in remem- 
brance of me,'' is as positive an order 
as '* Honour thy father and mother;'* 
and can I ever expect to reach heaven 
by the violation of God's commands ? 
Tliese dyingc words of my Lord's are 
80 very express, that here is no colour 
for the least evasion, I must, there- 
fbre, either do thiR, or Tetio\iivc« Vi\^ 



THE HOLY EUCHARIST* 101 

favour by living lu a wilful contempt 
of his law : and if, notwithstanding 
his divine order, I refuse *' to eat his 
body, and drink his blood," I must 
expect no benefit from his piercing 
the one, and spilling of the other ; 
but all the dear merits of his love, 
and effects of his passion, are lost to 
me. 

Why then so backward, O my soul ! 
why so fearful to go to meet thy Sa- 
viour ? Thou art not prepared, hasten 
others, and prepare thyself, for this 
must be no pretence to keep thee' 
away ; since they who sent their ex- 
cuses, and made light of it, had as 
severe a doom as he that had not on 

the wedding-garment. 'Us crue, who- 
ever does his Lord's commands slight- 
ly, and without heed, must expect 




102 THB BOLT BUCHARIST. 

pnoishment ; and wilt thou therefore 
cbooae wholly to neglect it, and be the 
serrant who " knew his Master's will, 
but did it not ?" I may be prepared, 
if I will ; I must therefore expect a 
double punishment, both for my want 
of preparation, and niy absence too. 

If an earthly prince orders me a 
speedy embassy, and at the time of 
my espected returu comen in haste, 
and demaude an account of it, will it 
be enough (u tell Mm that 1 was not 
yet set out, because 1 had not yet put 
tin my trarelliug garb ? Much less will 
euch trivial pretencea afford me any 
just excuses when I appear before the 
^^reat God, who will take a severe ao- 
count of my absence, and then, like 
(/at that would not prepare to come, 
nhall stand BpeeohleiB. 



THB HOLT BUCHARI8T. 103 

Put on thy garments, therefore, O 
my soul ! and haste away ; for my 
Lord is importunate, and stays expec- 
ting thee : wilt thou send the King 
word, that thou art neither ready, 
nor wilt prepare to be so ? That will 
be such an affront indeed, as will 
make him for ever abhor thee, and 
stop all future invitations to his feast. 
Up then, O my soul ! and call up all 
thy graces, and forthwith adorn thy- 
self; for nothing will excuse thee in 
his sight, if bis proffer be thus abused 
and slighted, since himself and the 
guests are waiting with impatience 
for thy coming. 

O my Lord ! I come, I accept the 
offer, I can no longer resist so kind 
an invitation ; and, that 1 may not 
come unprepared, I here give up my 



104 THE HOLT EUCHARIST. 

^vliole self, both soul aud body, to tlx 
service : Aud tlms I now approaei^ 
tby heavenly temple, in order to pre- 
sent myself at thine altar. 

O my soul ! we are now in the 
house of God. Behold the sermon is 
ended, and the devout guests are now 
flocking to celebrate the feast, and 
commemorate the death and passion 
of the crucified Jesus : turn thyself, 
therefore, to the heavenly table ; for 
behold there stands the priest of the 
living God, and the messenger of the 
great King is sent out to call them 
that are bidden. Hark ! he is now 
proclaiming the feast, and publishing 
the invitation: **Ye that do truly 
and earnestly repent you of your sins, 
draff' near with faith, and take this 
Jjo// sHcramcnt to your couA^tX..' 



TUB HOLY BIJCHARIST. 105 

IIuw solemn, O my goul ! is the cele- 
bration of this holy ordinance ! AH 
things here are in a profound silence, 
which well suits the representation of 
80 mysterious a tragedy as the death 
and passion of the Sod of God. "lis 
fit, indeed, that our first approaches 
to that awful mystery should be taken 
up with a silent contemplation of its 
wonders. 

Fall down, O my soul and body ! 
and amidst these prostrate guests, 
present yourselves before the altar of 
God with the deepest humility, and 
there, in the lowest postures of fear 
and reverence, admire for a while the 
divine goodnesss, in calling thee, a 
wretched sinner, to a lively represen- 
tation uf his death, and conferring 
upon thee all the benefits of it in the 



tlie geuerul cuafeiiflion, to ickDOw- 
ledge tho8a cruel aiaa that cauucd this 
bitter paBsion of m; Lord : with re- 
doubled uries for loercy solicit his 
pardon, and with an humility iuitable 
to the guilt, cry out," We ilo c anient - 
ly repent ; have mercy ujmn us, UtLvti 
luercy upon us, most merciful Father ! 
^'urtli^ Son, our Lord JeRus ChriBt's 
saAe, forgive as nil thM* \«i6V,w\4 



THE HOLY EUCHARIST. 107 

grantthatwe may ever hereafter serve 
and please thee in newness of life.*' 
Lift up your hearts ! yes, J will lift it 
up unto the Jjord, that I may join 
with the rest in crying^ out with a 
seraphic fervour, '* It is very meet 
and right, and our bounden duty, 
that we should at all times, and in 
all places, jcrive thanks unto thee, O 
Lord, hearenly Father, almighty and 
everlasting God ! Therefore, with an- 
gels and archangels, and all the com- 
pany of heaven, we laud and magnify 
thy glorious name evermore, praising 
thee, and saying. Holy, holy, holy 
Lord God of hosts ! Heaven and earth 
are full of thy glory; glory be to thee, 
O Lord most high." See the minister, 
O my soul ! is now consecrating the 
iietvenly elements ! Look on with 




TUB HOLY BUCHARl*'*-"'' 

rence, then, and let my hear %y^ji, 
.18 most solemn and essent\a7/Mut 
e sacred institution, that so what 
ills the creatures of God, bread 
wine, may be to me bis most 
ed body and blood. 
ire, O my soul ! I may very fitly 
tate on the amazing g^oodness of 
ledeemer, in suffering his body 

broken, like that bread, and his 
ous blood, like the wine, to be 
3d out upon the painful cross. 
f here contemplate the mighty 
its of his death to me, and the 

torments of it to himself: I 
lere consider the strange debase- 
it of the Almighty, in coming 
from heaven to be here wounded 
nth, only that such sinners as 
If might not feel the eternal 



._ • >- ^« 



THE HOLT EUCHARIST. 109 

sufferinsrs we had deserved. "Hs 
time that thou now draw nigfh unto the 
holy altar, O my soul ! and there ac- 
tually perform what has hitherto been 
onlythe subject of thy meditation. See, 
the minister reaches out to thee the 
broken body of thy Lord! "the body 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was 
given for thee," &c. With the deep- 
est humility of my soul, and with the 
highest adoration of thy goodness, 
do I now receive thee, Omy crucified 
Lord ! I feed on thee, dear Savioarr.- 
in my heart, for I am now resolvod it- 
shall be ever thine, and thine alone, 
by faith (for no other feeding on thee 
will avail me.) I believe the doleful 
history of thy passion, and will here- 
after live as though 1 did believe it : I . 



1\0 THE HOLY B«CBA»1ST . 

will receive it with thanVagiv'in ^_ 
I sliall be ungrateful ini\eed\ 7 
dead body of ti friend, who has la 
hia life in his friend's quarrel, will st 
up a thankful remembrance in tl 
most barbarous tuGdel. Sball not 
Christian, then, raise up bis inflamt 
Eoul to the highest pitch of thankfu 
nesE, when he sees the broken bodji 
hie God, who died to save that no 
from hell ? But, lo ! the nmbassadi 
comes again with another divini: me 
aa^ as heavenly as tlie former: mei 
it then, my soul, with all the joy ol 
heart ravished at the repeated gooi 
ness of a bounteousGod. "Tliebloi 
of our Lord JeBUa Christ, nhich wi 
ahed for thee," &c. O my bleedii 
Jesua I I take this symbol at once < 




TRB HOLT BrCHARIST. Ill 

the blood, and tiiy tore, witb a heart 
overcbarged with admiration of thy 
ineffable goodness. 

1 am now urgent to find out full 
expressions of my thankfulness ; but 
1 am overpowered, and can only 
breathe out my desires, that thou 
vouldat accept the imperfect fervours 
of my Bspiriug soul : my enlarged 
heart is full of praises. O God of 
loTe I I burn, 1 burn with a desire of 
meetang thy lore with equal flames ' 
*'My heart is fixed, my heart is fixed, 
I will sing and gire pruae." O that I 
' could bat now exceed ye, O ye angels 
of God t and ling a hymn of praise 
to God my Saviour, of his own com- 
posing 1 For nothing less than that is 
worthy to express this ^rewt^ tlsA^ 
[ «ct of \&t Voift, ■«\Mo. -Bfil 



112 THE DOLT EUCHARIST. 

labouring soul is now striving in vain 
to reach. But since I cannot praise 
thee, O my God ! with an inspired 
song, I will raise up all my thoughts, 
1 will call up all that is within me, 
and summon each affection of my soul, 
that they may all join into one united 
act of fervour, to praise thee in the 
devout language of the holy church ; 
<' Glory be to God on high ! We 
praise thee, we bless thee, we worship 
thee ! we give thanks unto thee for 
thy great glory, O Lord God, hea- 
venly King, God the Father Al- 
mighty ! l^rd, the only-begotten 
Son Jesus Christ! O Lord God, 
Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that 
takest away the sins of the world, re- 
ceive our prayer ! Thou that sittest 
at the right hand oi Go^ W^ ^«>\\^v ^ 



THE HOLT EUCHARIST. 113 

have mercy upon us ! For thou on]y 
art holy, thou only art the Lord : 
^ thou only, O Christ, with the Holy 
Ghost, art most higfh, in the glory of 
God the Father." Thus sing, thus 
feast, thus live the angels ! Thus, 
my soul, will I continue singing to 
my God, till I am from hence trans- 
lated to a more intense enjoyment of 
his divine presence, in the kingdom 
of praise and endless hallelujahs. 

THE PRATER. 



uiaj uB acoepfWDM Uittay Aft^t /I 
in thine own nimei snd for the lake i 
tbj precious blood, that blood whk 
my thirsty soul has now been drinl 
iiig : my desire, O God, is, that 
may be ever mindful of what I hay 
now being doing, and remember, tha 
I have here given up myself to thj 
service ; that I have ratified my bap* 
tismal vow, and renewed my solemn 
oath, to renounce the pomps and va^ 
nities of this wicked world ; and that, 
if I should hereafter live in any wilful 
sin, it would be to account-. thU ki^**j 




TH 

not, by 
barbarous 
tear open 
make ther 
how rich 
table ! 
life with ' 
fiedmyhu; 
give me t 
known th< 
quet, I ha 
ger there, 
thy innta 
assistance 



116 THB SUFFERINGS OF HELL 

tills solemn resignation of myself, do 
thou mercifully accept the offer, and 
so direct the whole course of my life, 
that I may at length enjoy for ever 
thy divine presence, there to under- 
stand this great mystery of thy body 
and blood, and celebrate the mar- 
riage-supper of the Lamb with an an- 
gelic fervour and devotion. Amen. 



THE SUFFERINGS OF HELL. 

Descend, O my soul ! into the 
chambers of eternal death : go and 
visit for a while the tormented spirits 
in the burning lake : ransack all the 
corners of that sulphureous kingdom, 
Mnd survey the misefie^ ol x\v^ ^^vkwA 



r-TTAA ^ -^^/PBRINflS OP HELL. ] 17 

Gody what do I see ? My 
mjTjp "^^ Boul starts at yonder sight 
. _ .wAor and amazement ! Is not 
that the rich glutton who despised 
the beggar ? Surely it must be he ! 
see there he lies weltering in floods 
of fire and boiling brimstone ! How 
does he gasp for a drop, a single drop 
of water to cool his parched tongue ! 
See how his scalded eyes look up for 
pity, and his scorching tongue would 
fain roar out its hideous cries for help, 
or the least refreshment ! Lord, wilt 
thou not look down in mercy on the 
burning wretch ? Are not such insuf- 
ferable torments as these too great a 
punishment for the highest crimes ? 
O let me live tike begging Laxarus in 
in the world; nay, let me li?e in per- 
petual misery ; and may my whole 



'!/'#''» 



118 THB SUFFERINGS OF HELL. 

life be one continued torment ; let | 
me live my age of threescore years 
and ten, without one day's freedom 
from my tortures, in the midst of Ne- 
buchadnezzar's burning: fiery furnace, 
rather than come into this place of 
torment, or endure these miseries for 
a single hour. 

O miserable Dives ! my soul is 
amazed at thy sufferings. Though 1 
ought to hate thee for thy blasphemies 
and thy rage agunst the just God 
that sent thee thither, yet 1 am not 
able to see thee plunged into this 
gulph of misery, and fastened to 
such flames as these, without shedding 
a tear at the thoughts of thy incon- 
ceivable sorrows, and thy unspeak- 
able UOjf iu brin^n^ thyself hither 
for the sake of tYioae mV^^isA^^ 




THE BVFFBRINAR OP IlEMi. 119 

Bures in the world, which cranot 
now afford thee the least help or 
comfort in tbiH thy sad condition. 
And yet rich men would be ralued 
for their wealth ! Pitied, indeed, 
the; shall be, for pity sarely belongs 
to them, who, much like thee, give 
so severe an account of those riches, 
which here, with so tittle concern, 
they lay out in luxury and sensnal 
pleasures. 

How g'ladly now, O burning soul ! 
wouldst thou return to earth again, 
and there lead a life of the strictest 
piety ! How quickly woaldest thou 
rid thyself of whatever may hinder a 
holy life, and throw away thy great 
estate, rather than let it tempt thee 
Bgun to live in seasu«V «&«& «s& 
aofiiKsa here ! W\»«\.\it«^jft ••*i"fii*«' 



120 THE SUFFERINGS OF HELL. 

thou make to fly the society of the 
^reat, and employ all thy time in 
dressing the putrid sores of such 
bejfgars as that very Lazarus, for 
whose help you now cry out in vain! 
How soon wouldst thou lay aside thy 
purple and g^orgeous apparel, and 
cloath thyself with the humblest garb 
of poverty ! How freely wouldst thou 
cease thy faring sumptuously every 
day, reject thy costly dishes, and 
correct thy pampered flesh, like the 
hermits of old, with herbs and roots, 
and what the barren desserts afford ! 
How earnest wouldst thou be to turn 
thy beds of down, and all thy luxury, 
into the strictest exercises of fasting, 
watching, and prayer ! How gladly, 
wretched Dives ! wouldst thou per- 
form all thi§^ and infiniteV^ mote^ ^^^ 



..g,.itc8t be freed, but ti 
death, from these burninp^ mi si 
though thou wort sure then to r< 
to them again, and be for ever 
fmed to this thy scorching bee 
flames ! But indeed it must not 
thy time is past and gone for evt 
thou art now entered into a state 
eternity that admits no alt-eratic^ 
Thou hadst thy task appointed th( 
in the world, and time allotted th( 
for the doing it ; that time is gou 
no more to be recalled : after deal 
thou wert to receive th" - 




123 t 

undone for ever. O my trembli ^.^^ 
soul! this is a scene of horror >>w^ 
amazement. O ;e desperate B'V^ 
merry wurldlin^s ! look ttown a lit^^ 
into this hottomlesB pit of eternal 
misery, and then tremble and look 
pale at your condition. 

You may live merrily for a few ' 
years ; you may, indeed, in a despe* 
rate fit of bravery, throw off the me- ' 
lancholy prospect of your approach- 
ing end ; you may look with contempt 
upon the frigphtful stories of another 
world, and the cant of Hcripturs and 
the priests ; jou may ima^ne it be- 
neath your quality and reputed pru- 
dence, to be dejected at the fears of 
that which, if true, is at a distance ; 
therefore you he,ve time enough to I 
escape them. But ie^ v\\tm^ii «»&, 




IBLL, 123 

O my Bonl ! in their merry pfttlis, till 
they sport themselves into those tor- 
ments, which they will not till then 
believe. Leave them, though with 
pity, in the broad way, and pursue 
thy meditatioas on this horrid Inng- 
dom of eternal sufferings. 

What piercing cries and dismal 

groans are here '. Hare you no pity, 

O ye torturing fiends P Are ye not 

moved at these lamentable shrieks of 

tormented wretches? But, alas! Hell 

is no place for pity, and you yonr- 

elves are in the same condition, and 

our bitter cries increase the fearful 

)iu. O terrible regions of bitter- 

■a and despurl how severe are the 

bes of raving guilt and conscience 

■a I How cruet iauLV.1 ^ ^^&% ^^ra;*- 

I of thia n«vev-4y\ni -wtttro.*. ^ 



124 THE SUFFERINGS OF HELL. 

extort such crying compluDts^ and 
such deplorable voices of distress and 
misery ! What raging accents of 
grief are here ! How deep and 
mornful are these sighs ! How swift 
these scalding tears 1 How earnest 
are these bitter pangs ! Cruel stings 
of eteraal repentance and endless 
sorrows! ''Who,*' indeed, ''candwel' 
with everlasting burnings ?" Who ca* 
bear the racks of torture and insuf 
portable agonies, under which the 
wretched spirits groan and labor 
-Mt: one moment's respite, o 



■»» T 1- 



TQE SUFFERINGS OF HELL. 125 

Cain*s punishmenty in his despair- 
ing condition, was too heary for him, 
but truly *tis now much heavier : see 
where he lies there overwhelmed with 
hellish anger at his folly. How pale 
and ghastly are his affrighted looks ! 
What fretting pangs of anguish prey 
upon his guilty soul! Now, indeed, 
he may cry out, *^ My punishment is 
greater than I can bear.*' O God ! 
they are all here deprived of thy 
presence. These immortal souls 
were all made to enjoy their Creator, 
and to be to all eternity employed in 
the ravishing contemplatioDS of thy 
glorious Being, and thy divine pre- 
sence. But they are now for ever ba- 
nished from thee, and must never see 
the joyful light of thy countenance. 
Thou art the source of all the happi- 




I 



nesB above, and millions of x^da^ 
saints Diid sng'eltt crowd ti^^oii -^ 
throne, eager to enjoy thy s^^ 
presence, and are transported 
hallelujuliB of praise and thanksgivi 
for their admission toit. Hownretc 
ed, then, are these miserable soul 
who, contrary to their own natu 
and creation, are utterly exclud 
from their God; and instead of beii 
blessed with the happy contemplatl 
of thy divine goodness, are sure nev 
to think of thee, but with the utma 
degree of dread and terror! Heav 
itself would be void of comfort, we 
it not that thou art tliere. Htl 
destitute of all enjoyment, then, mu 
be the hellish state, where all a 
f:iiles, and shall ever continue in : 
eternal banishment ftom \.W\: G< 



THB BUFFBRIMGS OF HELL. 127 

** in whose presence there is fulness 
of joy !" How fearful are the thoughts 
of this separation from God, to a 
soul that truly loves him ! ^* My 
soul panteth after thee, O Jesus, my 
dear God ! let me not then be ever 
torn from thee." How are these 
damned spirits, O my soul ! torment- 
ed not only for the loss of God, but 
of all the unspeakable happiness of 
his kingdom I They know they might 
have reigned with him as kings of 
glory ; whereas they are now slaves 
of misery, and vassals of the prince 
of darkness : they are now sensible, 
that they might have shone more bright 
than the meridian sun, in tlie bright- 
est mansions of eternal splendour; but 
now they find themselves wretched 
prisonerB in chains of darkness, even 



128 THE SUFFERINGS OF HELL. 

darkness that may be left. Tliej 
know they might hare been now 
refreshing themselves in the calm 
streams of heavenly pleasures at the 
right hand of God; but instead of 
that, they are now covered over with 
scorching floods of fiery sulphur. 

This is a sad exchange, and how 
painful are the thoughts of it ! What 
raving expressions of a hellish fury 
does the remembrance of these things 
extort from these angry souls, in vain 
cursing their own madness and des- 
perate folly ! How empty, and des- 
titute of all enjoyments and worldly 
comforts, is this dreadful place ! 
Tell me, O ye tortured souls ! are any 
of all those pleasures to be found 
here, which you once delighted in ? 
Do you notsad\7 fkiA»V\v^v.i^>^^\A 



THB 8UPFBRINGS OF H 

those delights and recrei 
now for ever parted, to y 
were so much addicted in i 
that you did not so much 
of this eternal separation ft 

Ood ! I do not find an; 
sensual mirth and hriskn 
which was their chief empi 
the world : here are no 
after the chase, nor mus 
well-scented hounds, whic 
counted a genteel way of 
away that time which was ] 
«' to work your salvation * ir 
stead of that, these Tales * 
echo only their own groans 
shrill howlings of pun am 

1 cannot here see any of i 
glasses and merry cups w 
-Xo entertain their carousii 



130 THB SnPFBRIKGS OF HBLL. 







and served to pass awaj the tedions 
time. Here is nothing but parchinj^ 
thirst, and crying out for drops of 
any thing to slake the scalding lory 
of unquenchable flames. Though ye 
would not be persuaded to belieye it, 
yet you may, by sad experience, truly 
cry, *' The end of our mirth is hea^- 
ness." O my soul ! what black society 
is this ? These are frightful shapes 
indeed ! Here are devils and heltish 
fiends at once to torture and affright. 
Can you, O ye damned souls of qua- 
lity that are here, can ye brook such 
company as this ? What I can you 
stoop to lie down with the -scorned 
and despieable beggars of a drop of 
water? Is tUs company for gentle- 
HM ? Alas i dhw ! you yourselves 
are these beggtrs now« There is no 



/ 




THE SUFFERINGS OF HELL. 131 

distinction, no difference in the cries 
of rich and poor ; you are all alike 
condemned to perish in eternal want, 
and your mixed howlings of the 
extremest poverty are united, but to 
no purpose ; you are joined in the 
common cry after help or pity, though 
utterly in vain ; for God, angels, and 
men, are deaf to your loud com- 
plaints. There are your companions 
with you, with whom you used to 
converse in familiar mirth and brisk- 
ness ; you have none else to go to for 
relief, though it will be to little pur- 
pose to expect succour at their hands^ 
who are in the same condemnation, 
and can only (and in vain too) cry 
back again to you, and curse you for 
helping to bring them to those suffer- 
ingf , in which you can now afford 




132 THE SUFFBRIHflS OF BILL. 

neither pity nor relief. But i 
bleeding heart, cnvered with omai 
ments of their horrid Buffering 
makes me afrnid to insult over the 
in their inconceivable miseries, 
my soul ! cangt thou think of dwc 
ing far ever with auch^ocietyas thii 
Canst thou be content not only 
hear, but to join in these ragii 
curses against God and one anothe 
these horrid blasphemies and ravii 
. yells of madness and hellish fury 
Truly were there no other, yet thei 
would be torments enough to creU 
m hell of insupportable horror. O do 
sodI! thus barn, thnshowl, thus wee| 
and thus rage the damned spiril 
the dark inhabitants of hell; u 
yet, alas ! the greatest misery ia sti 
beUnd : for were there any tb« leu 




THE SUFFERINGS OF HELL* 133 

expectation of coming out from hence 
it would be some ease, even in their 
present sufferings. 

But here they burn, and burn they 
nust for ever : here is no hope of free- 
lom, no end of torments, no redemp- 
ion, none at ail ; for it is an irrevoca- 
le decree, and irreversible maxim in 
le laws of divine vengeance, ' Once 
hell, and there for ever.* O ye 
fferiug reprobates ! it is a sad thing 
t ye must continue in this hot 
f of pain for a whole day ; but 
much more sad and dreadful is 
hat ye must lie here fixed and 
«?eable for a year? It is then very 
fal to be covered with these fires 
age ; for who can bear an age of 
wking torments ? But, farther, 
ost remain here, and not 



134 TRB SUFFBRINGB OP OBLI., 

8tir from hence, till a thousand 
tedious years are quite expired. 
O thia ie hetiT; and insupportalile ! 
who would tie thus long in flames, 
for the sake of a short life of pleasure 
and sensual satisfaction ? But hark 
ye! this is not all, you must be here 
in these torments, not for a day, a 
year, an age, or an hundred years, 
but alirays, even forever and ever. 
When you hare lain here as many 
miliionH of ages as there are drops of 
water in the sea, it will be the same I 
thing as it is now, and their eternity ] 
will not be a moment nearer to an ', 
end than now ; for it nerer will have j 
&n end at all. O ead, O restless ' 
eternity I into what a maxe and unac- 
couotsblt labjnntVt w^ xWv entered I . 
My thougbta ite fcW iwV.wA. s.^a-'' 



THE SUFFERINGS OF HELL. 135 

fused in this vain search after the 
duration of eternity. I am busied 
with heaping up millions of years to 
reach it; and when I can add no 
more, I suppose the rest : but all my 
innumerable figures are but trifles, 
and my supposals vain and frivolous ; 
for I must at last throw all my num- 
bers and my pen away, since instead 
of reaching the end, I am not now, 
nor ever shall be, any farther than 
the beginning of the first moment of 
eternity, as if it had a second, as if 
the first should ever end. Alas ! it 
h{i8 no moments, it has no measures 
of time ; it has no time at all, for 
eternity is when time shall be no 
more. I see I must go no farther, I 
cannot attempt a description of eter- 
nity, for it is beyond my capacity to 



i 



«i 



136 THE SUFFERINGS OP HELL. 

think how long that is which hat no 
lenfi^th, no end at all : break off 
abruptly therefore, O my soul, from 
this amazing contemplation, for truly 
I am overwhelmed in the mysterious 
depth of eternity. 

THE PKATER. 

O God of terror, who art, to the 
wilful despisersof thyjust commands, 
a consuming fire, grant that I may 
use my utmost diligence to obserTe 
those commands, and escape that fire. 
Jjet me never think thy punishments 
unequal, since thy laws are so just 
and righteous, and since thou art 
pleased to make me continual offers 
of tliy grace to assist me in the obser- 
vance of them* If the astonishing 
instances of thy love cannot allure 



THE SUFFERINGS OF HELL. 137 

me to a return of gratitude ; if the 
pleasure and satisfaction of having 
done my duty cannot invite me to 
set about i];; if the eternal glories of 
thy kingdom are not of force enough 
to oblige me to direct my course 
thither, yet, at1east,may 'Hhe terrors 
of the Lord persuade me/' Let the 
fears of thy everlasting displeasure, 
and the fearful torments of thine 
anger, drive and force me to a life of 
holiness and piety, lest I run upon 
these dismal effects of thy wrath, and 
feel the insupportable load of thy 
burning vengeance. Make me sen- 
sible, O God, how unable I am to 
bear the least of all those insuffer- 
able torments, which are prepared 
for tbem that live lives of careless 
ease and pleasures here. O let me 



.JrM«MiV2>^ ^»._^,^ , , ^^ -. . „-.. ^ 1 '■<. 



1^ kV^kC^..^. 



138 TUB SUPPSRIKCB OF HELL. 

not, I beseecb thee, "receive my^ood 
things of this life ;" but let my daysand 
nigflits be full of mourDlng, and my 
years of trouble, no that I may escape 
the sad afflictions of eternity. May 
1 hare my cup brim full of sorrows 
here., and lie under the heavy pres- 
Hui'es even of a wounded spirit, rather 
than groan beneath the terrors of 
despair in hell, aod the guawing 
worm that uerer dies. Thou, O Suu 
of Righteousness, art my light and 
my life ; haw dreadful then will be m 
perpetual separation from thy dear 
and comfortable presence ! Grant 
therefore that I may so walk here in 
this life, that when it is at an end, I 
may not be banighed from thy sight 
for ever, but may live and reign with 
thee in life everlaatiDg. Amen. 



THE BBAHB, ETC. 



TUB SHAME OP ArPBARIKO 



T is a and reflection, O my soul, to 

hink that there sliould be such a 

reature ia the world as a Christian 

shHmed of Christ ; yet there sre 

reat iiambers of such wretches, 

rgetful of the holy name by which 

tj are called. One would thiok 

teed, that since they are so shy in 

nin^ the strictneBS and piety of 

Ir Christian profession, they should 

generously and bare-faced, and 

dy disovT their baptism, as well 

ord SH deed ; especially consi- 

g how tittle it will avsilthen). 

■ioce they are ishamed to 

re their baptismal vow, that 



140 THE SHAMR OF 

holy sacrament will be so far from 
furthering their salvation, that Sodom 
and Gomorrah will find mercy in the 
day of judgment sooner than they. 
They read in the sacred writ, that 
they must not pray in the corners of 
the streets, nor perform any religious 
duty, from a vain desire to be seen 
of men ; and from hence they take 
refuge to excuse themselves from 
discourses, or public acts of charity; 
little considering, that it is the same 
thing whether they go to hell as 
hypocrites, or as despisers of the 
simplicity of their holy faith. Surely 
those that blush at the holy example 
of their Saviour, will find as little 
mercy at his hands, and feel the 
burning tophet as hot as he that 
professes him out of vain glory! 



^ . ■ .fi<.-w^*S^V. 




APPEARING STRICTLY PIOUS. 

For it is certain, that to do on 
duty (though not from any exa 
principle of good) is far better thi 
wholly to neglect and despise it. ( 
my soul, what extreme weakness an( 
folly are these bashful professors, or 
rather contemners of the Christian 
faith, guilty of! They are, indeed 
generally such as the mistaken world 
sets a value on for their prudence : 
but this is like the false and flattering 
world, to judge a Christian prudent 
by that lofty reservedness of his 
carriage, which is so far from the 
simplicity of the Christian temper, by 
vhich indeed we ought wholly to 
bsfract the man from all his out- 
ard grandeur and accomplishments, 
fore we can pass a right judgment 
him ; for nothing is more certain. 



142 THB SHAME OF 

than that these very men, whose 
haug^hty and affected prudence can- 
not stoop to the severe rules of piety, 
for fear of being reputed low-spirited, 
are very short-sighted, and act no 
otherwise than pitied idiots. Like 
children, they are afraid of bugbears, 
and yet run into the fire ; for they 
are such cowards, as '' to fear them 
that can kill the body, and then can 
do no more ;" but they are ashamed 
**to fear Him that can cast both soul 
and body into hell." But consider, 
O my loul, that the base ingratitude 
of disowning thy Saviour, is even 
greater than the folly of it. Shall I 
ever be ashamed to assert and vindi- 
cate his honour among the briskest 
companions of vice and wickedness 
iplien he was not. «a\a.\sv^^^ Vst \k 



1PP8ARIM« STRICTLT PIOUB. 143 

sake, to be born in a dirty stable, 
and of the meanest parents ; to 
undergo infinite contempt and re- 
proaches in the woild ; to be appre- 
hended as a thief ; to be tried and 
condemned as a ^ilty felon ; to be 
sbamefullj and openly whipped and 
scourged in the view both of bia 
friends and enemies ; and then, after 
innumerable mocks and taunts, to be 
hanged up and executed as a male- 
factor ? Shall my Lord and my 
Redeemer, who was God, thus bear 
the cross, and despise the shame, 
aad all this for a worm ? And shall 
that worm be ashamed of his glorious 
goipel, and flcomto imitate his great 
example of the strictest innocence, 
humility, and derotion ? Bat the 
world will deride me : let it, for 



f 



Lord has assnnd me (ind i ii 

belieTe him) that if I am i 

'* ashamed to confess Uhi ben 

men,*' he <' will certainly confess ■ 

own .me befere the Angels of Goi 

This same contempt of men for ( 

sake of Christ, ought to be 

strange thing to a Christian ; for 

was one of the conditions on wh 

his holy disciples were to recf 

their crowns, " Whosever will 

*-- "*•* i»i« t»% 



APPEARING STRICTLY PIOUS. 145 

then shftll I be, if I am scorned for 
the strictness of my life» with the 
afflicted apostle, and become a fool 
for Christ ! O that I might have 
this certain character of a disciple of 
the blessed Jesus ! how would I 
triumph in the shame ! how would I 
exult in the reproach, and even 
glory in the cross of Christ ! 

O my soul! shall I be ashamed 
of the life of angels ? Their happy 
eternity is employed in praising and 
adoring their Creator ; shall I then 
be afraid to be devout, or discourse 
before men on his goodness and 
divine perfeetions ? Shall I be 
ashamed of that for which I was born, 
and made a happy member of the 
church of God ? Shall my soul 
shrink back, and think that bc%. 



/ 



like nature, and for whiea atto.^ 
wa8 created ? Let the world laugh 

at the folly of the cross ; it will weep 
ere long, and tlien it will be my turn 
to sing and triumph, and my mirth 
will then be eternal, as their fears : 
I can cheerfully suffer the derision of 
wicked men, whilst the angels in 
heaven rejoice, and applaud my 
courage : and certainly I shall not 
be so mad as to let fools laugh me 
out of heaven and everlasting hap- 
piness ! for if I cowardly shrink back 
at the childish censures of men, and 
am ashamed of Christ and his truti 
before them, he has positively threat 
cned *' to be ashamed of me, whe 
he conies in the glory of his Father 



^,.- uu then, ye mighty m 
stateliness and worldly repute, 
not beneath my quality to be 
<rious, and submit to the lov 
offices of my Christian calling ; i 
will I run upon this fearful doooiy 1 
fear of lessening my repute with yo\ 
or being ridiculed by the little ccl 
sures of the wits. I can be con 
tented to obey my Saviour's direc 
tions, and enter into heaven with thi 
simplicity of a child, and you ma] 
walk on merrily, and like men o 
parts, another way. ''•' 



1 A. -4. 



into a pUee of eternal 1 
■od eonfiiiion. 

** Let your light so el 
men," is a poBitiye commi 
God and Saviour ; and si 
ture to trample upon his c 
Shall I holdly rush on ii 
disobedience, and desperi 
a divine law so express as 
candle was not g^ven i 
i under a bushel, nor my 1 



APPEARING STRICTLY PIOUS. 149 

faithful servant ; Enter thou into the 
joy of thy Lord." 

There is no sort of sin or wicked- 
ness in the world, that ever ruined so 
many souls, as the ill example of 
men. The carlessness of those with 
whom we daily converse, who are 
men of repute in the world for 
honesty and prudent behaviour, 
makes us think, that if we come to 
their life, we are secure enough ; at 
least as secure as most men, and we 
think we may venture our souls as 
well as they. 

Thus, when we see men are not drunk- 
ards or gluttons, swearers, profaners 
of the Lord*8 day, or the like, if they 
avoid adultery, covetousness, and 
notorious sius, ni^ Tt^<5ycL ^x^m^. ^^ 
patterns for ua to io\Vi^ % ^\s^'^^ 



150 TBB SHAMB OP 

we can but live as ther io, foothlily 
promise ourselTes the glories of tliat 
kingdom into nhich, if we stop here, 
we tihall never enter. Since then, 
my §oul, thia general i!l example of 
the careless world is the cauae of its 
own ruin, and makes good the truth 
of that severe sentence, that few sliatt 
enter into heaven, I must not help 
to make the number fewer, by being 
cold in my Christian calling, or 
ssbamed to make a more zealous 
profession of it than the lukewarm 
pretenders to it. I will rather endea- 
vour, with my utmost zeal, to repair 
tiie fatal mischief, and by diligeoce 
and courage in mj great Master's 
■errice, will not be ashumed to shew 
wen that I am '* euWvn; v> c^tict in 
*t the strait g«te C \ -w'A «tN«. «a 



APPEARING STRICTLY PIOUS. 151 

circumspectly before God and men, 
and let my light so shine before 
them, as, if possible, to allure them 
to be my fellow-traTellers to a con- 
tinual city. For thy support then, 
O my soul, in the performance of 
this holy resolution of standing up 
for thy Redeemer's honour, notwith- 
standing the silly censures of men, 
take along with thee the great ex- 
amples of this holy courage, which 
the book of God has laid befdre thee 
for thy imitation. 

How fervent an example of this 
was the holy psalmist, that devout 
and humble pattern of courage, in 
setting forth the glory of God, even 
to the abasement of his own ! I 
blush at my own baftk^^T^xN««^ "'w^ 
shewing my zcaA ior ^oA-* '^Xsrxv ^^ 




152 



THE 6lii*B ^^ 



roiis'uler tlie high esnmp^e ^ '^ hig ij* 
tile lut'St ]iubVic and e\a\tt^ manner.^ 
til at the most ardent zral coutc^ 
prom])t you tu. 'I'lie Rik of Gotj 
WHS lironght to tile city uf David, 
which tilkfi his royal heaiC with bucIi 
a measure of devuut ^ladiiees, that 
to welcome it, he laid by his kingly 
rubes, put on a surplice, and, to 
testify hiy pious joy, fell t(> dancinj; 
before the ark with all his might, 
and that in the si^'ht of all his cour- 
tiers and the people. The Iiltisliin; 
queen saw it, and thought it so much 
lieiieath hiE royal dignity, as to scorn 
and ridicule him for it, with all the 
contempt and passion of a haughty 
spirit, too great to brook the low 
debasement of her husbaud'ii majesty. 
" And Mioiial, Saul's daughter. 




APFSARlKa BTRICTLT PIOUS, 153 

looked through a window, and s&w 
king David dancing before the IjUrd ; 
and she despised him. And she 
came out to meet him, and scorn- 
fully said, How glorious was the 
king of Israel to day, who uncovered 
himself in the eyes of the handmaids 
of his servants, as one of the vain 
fellows shdinetully uncovereth him- 
self!" Here was an open contempt, 
enough to put him out of counte- 
uanee ; and would certainly have 
made him btush at the forwanlness 
of bis truisported zeal, had he not 
had a true relish of piety and fervour. 
But his answer shewed how for h« 
was from being ashamed ; " And 
David said unto Michal, it was 
before the Lord, which c\\wk. -v&c 
before thy father, m\4 \tefetft ^ '^■•'*' 



house, to upf€iuk% me raler u*w. 
people of the Lord. And I iHU i 
yet more Wle than this, tnd irftt- 1 
base in my own sigfht, &e." O n 
soul ! how very glorious and hero 
was this action of the ropal prophe 
How great and honourable was 
at this instant in the eyes of G 
though the abjects had him in d 
sion ! The blessed angels af 
' ' -"i-ftlv emulate such a zer 




APPEARING STRICTLT PIOUS. 155 

him ; and yet hia grandeur could , 
not make him ashamed to lay aside 
all bis honour, and stoop to the 
meauest instances of a true piety, by 
which he might advance to the glory 
of a greater king. Surely then such a 
zeal for the honour of my Redeemer, 
will not be beneath me, whose rile- 
nesB makes me unworthy to speak 
or even think of this holy monarch, 
without rising up at his sacred me- 
mory, and celebrating the devout 
and hearenly ardour of his roysl 
heart. Consider, O my soul t tlie 
apostles, those high patrons of cou- 
rage, in the midst of public scorn, 
when tbey were had before kings 
and princes for hi* name's sake ; 
and after they haA \«eT» Aiwa.*^'* 
beatea and dismissed ^ox ^^tft^^^t.^^ 



156 THE SHAMB OP 

the name of Jesus, and planting his 
lioly doctrine, they departed from 
the presence of the council, rejoicing 
that they were counted worthy to 
suffer shame for his name ; and 
notwithstanding the abases of the 
great, and reproaches of the rulers, 
yet daily in the temple, and in every 
house, they ceased not to preach 
Jesus Christ. 

How great, my soul, was St. Paul's 
desire of glorifying God, without 
respect to outward repute, or the 
esteem of the censuring world ! How 
burning was his earnest zeal aftf 
the conversion of souls, and * 
honour of his great Master !• ^ 
a divine example of despising 
Faiii Judgments and re\itoach of i 
does he shew him^eVi \o Vv& 



• I 



•* I hope that I s 
in nothing be ashamed, but that \^ 
all boldness, as always, so now a! 
shall Christ be magnified in i 
body, whether it be by life or I 
death. Being reviled, we bless 
being defamed, we entreat. We ar 
made as the filth of the world, anc 
are the off-scouring of all things to 
his day : therefore I take pleasure 
1 reproaches, in necessities, in per- 
meations for Christ's sake ; for when 
am weak, then am I strong. We 
9 fools for Christ*B "•*• 



*'V"^m catted, »»* 
hU goodness. 



APPEARING STRICTLY PIOUS. 159 

trary to good breeding, to correct an 
honourable and wealthy wretch, who 
makes bold with God himself, and 
has no more manners than to affront 
the great Majesty which made the 
bold and haughty worm out of dust 
and ashes? No, my soul, let his 
barns be full, and his bags too : let 
his titles swell to never so large a 
catalogue; let him fetch his long- 
winded pedigree from the ancient 
emperors ; let his crouching tenants 
and liveries fill a city ; let him, with 
his brother in the gospel, wear pur- 
ple, go fine, fare sumptuously every 
day ; yet will I never suffbr him, 
without a severe reproof, to abuse 
piety and religion, or any ways to 
affront my dear Lord and Ma&tex. 
Sooner shall my tow^e^ ^\^w^ ^» '^'^ 




roof of my mouth, then lie still 
cease to assert the greatness of 
»ucred name, ng'siiist the migl 
cttntemnerB of it: thatnnme whic 
very powere of darkness dread 
in whom they believe and trembi 



O Eternal and Almi^lity 
who hss snid, that those that hi 
thee, thou wilt hoDour ; but 
that despise thee, shall he li 
esteemed ; suffer me not at any 
to be disheartened from prodai 
thy goodness nmoDg the wickei 
spisers of it, nor fear what ma 
do unto me. Let me ever g)( 
thy holy name, wen in ibe mil 
those that swew \j^ '* \ *xA^' 




APPBARIHG STRICTLY FIOUS. 11)1 

))laces as reftdy to assert my Christian 
professioi), as others are to dibowii it. 
Grant th&t 1 may never be ashamed 
to ehew the greatest earaestiieBS and 
Goura^eininy Christian warfare, since 
I shall not be ashamed to expect my 
crown of reward lud up for me nC 
the end of it. And since the servniit 
in not above bis Lord, may the 
insolent crowd, to my despised iSn- 
viour, wlieii tiiey Jaughed him to 
scorn, make me expect no better 
usa^, and excite me to pass by the 
mocks and reproach of men, as 
beneath the notice and couragpe of a 
soldier of Christ, the Captain of my 
salvsljon. O let me never be hard' 
eiied into such a foi^tfulness uf mjr 
bapljflmal vow, by my backwiiT&.'a^tA 
ill the defence of Xhy W\"j wk«v«.,»* 



world. leBt thon. the J«lp» J^ •" 

before God, and the holy m«^ 
esty, bu thy dmne g ^^^^ 

Credtoeo^es^h.^^^^^^^ 
letmecver, with the hoiy^^^^ 

^" ''^ f fie thvgreaUribttual with 
awpear before thy gr«^^ _^ ^_^^ ^^ 



...13 lite ; and tliat 
honour and repute which I may 1 
here hy a forward zeal to thy jjlo 
will be fully made up in the futi 
enjoyment of an eternal crown 
honour : and it is sure a happy ba. 
gain to suffer a little shame on eartl 
and be made an heir of hea?en ; U 
forego the reputation of the work 
for the glorious titles of the sons oi 
Grod, is a good exchange : and let 
he thoughts of this, I beseech thee, 
ispire me with courage enough to 
reak through all the diff--''* 



OF. DBATH. 

Mbtoinkb I here li?e merrily in 
the world, pass away my time in 
careless ease and briskness. They 
talk that this world is full of troubles, 
but I am sure I want for nothing^ ; 
for whilst many others eat the bread 
of carefulness, I live at ease and 
pleasure, free from sickness, and 
secure from want. But let me stop 




and subject t 
sent them to 
a sad medita 
and enjoy th. 
must part ^ 
glnce a sen 
departure oc 
useful to a 
another, 1 ^ 
cloBet, or yc 
there mediti 
my death. 

As certa 
art now thi 



I 



left tills worlil, and Bhall iicvct n 
turn to it ni,'aiti. Myaiicetftora, v\ 
have inherited these lands, and iiil 
blted ttiia bouae, arc all dead ; hn 
taken an eternal leave of this e><ti 
uf theirs : and as sure as tliey left 
me, Eo shall I shortly leave it t 
other, and hid adien to this lian 
f-ome scat, and all my wealth besidt 
Uidiappy man I Why then do I ta 
all tliia care, and am solicitous 
Increase those riches which will 
suddenly be none of mine? W 
do I thus concern myself with utli 
mens' business, and neglect the gra 
affair of eternal life ? I am at pi 
sent called master of the house ; I 
I shall soon be carried out of it 
helpless corpse, shunned by the mei 
est uf my scrrants, and be remoi 



OF DEATH. 167 

to another house, tlie house of mourn- 
ing^, not above six feet long, and a 
yard high : thus will the body be 
disposed of. But I have another 
part about me that will never die, an 
immortal soul, that must be for ever 
in another world. Now which of 
these two is the greatest concern, and 
requires the greater care ? Why do 
I not think oftener of death, then, 
since it will so certainly seize upon 
me ? My father, not many years 
since as healthy as myself, is dead, 
and lies yonder a coffinful of dust. 
Now, it is impossible for a mortal 
father to beget an immortal son ; it 
is certain therefore that my coffin 
will shortly be with his, and then the 
estate which he once called his, and 



fi-e world tl.i« is to set one' "l 
•«1 ! .0 i. i, ,„, ,,,„ ° ") 

' snail at last say, thaf U « * -n ^' 
iliif if T I , . ^* ^ '® * *"fle ton 



OF DBATH. 160 

morrow : and shall I not at that time 
think it true, that death is hasty, and 
my life short ? 

I now vainly propose to myself 
many years to come, (no question 
but my father thought so too,) and 
yet those promised years are nothing 
now, but are all vanished, and, like 
him, gone for ever. I think twenty 
years a long time ; but if I look back 
upon twenty years that are past, it 
will shew me my mistake, for they 
appear but as yesterday; and it is 
certain, that the years to come will 
be no longer than the years past. 

Consider, O my soul ! in time 
consider, that this death will put an 
end to all my greatness here. All 
my money and my purch«A«%^ ^V&sdOb^ 



170 r.PDEATEI. 

now iiistGHd <if M'utuliiii!;;, niiil 
duties of holiness, eiti[>luy my C 
will tlieii be torn awny from nic, 
tinBS to others. It will then apjn 
linve been labouring to make f 
body else rich ; and will it nnt 
be a. sad reflection, to tliiiik tl 
liarc s]ietit tny tirau to be dan 
for another man, and must en 
endlesH torments for I know 
whom ? All my Raiety, and t 
fine cloths, will then be turned ii 
bhroud, and not any thing of 
finery will remain, but the prii 
it to be answered for, Perha 
have now a title of respect be; 
the lower rank of men ; but all 
I shall then be called, will be a 
nrps; and the raivHstci- will ru 



OF DEATH. 171 

forget my title of distinction, and 
cry, ** Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, 
dust to dust.** 

To be satisfied of the truth of this, 
let us step a little, O my soul ! to 
yonder vault, where my kindered lie 
interred, and there see what the 
greatness of this world comes to, and 
take a more sensible view of what I 
myself must quickly be. How dark 
and silent is this horrid place ! Here 
is no living creature but myself and 
worms. My candle burns dim, and 
I am frighted ; my blood chills for 
fear of those who were once my 
dearest friends : but I am resolved to 
▼entre forward ; and to make my 
meditations on this doleful subject 
more exact, I will rau&aAk^\%tS«»aBik» 
ber of death •, aii^ wvt.^ vavw^ ^^^ 



172 OP DBATH. 

here to keep me company, 1 v%^j// 
converse with the dead, and discour»& 
a while to them that cannot hear 
nic ; I will go and open that coffin 
there, whose inscription tells me that 
my mother lies within. All the 
tender instances of her love come 
now afresh into my memory, and I 
am resolved once more to see her, 
and requite her affection, by shedding 
a iilial tear over those dear remains 
of her s. I long to see that smiling 
face again- with which she died ; for 
methought her countenance looked 
sadly amiable, as she cast her dying 
eyes upon us, and departed from us in 
a smile of love. O God ! what do 1 
see ? Lying epitaph ! is this my 
mother ? Was I bovn of this putrid 
^iiift ? Did I proceed itom ^ Na^^ 



\^ 



and all these noisomo •«._ 
it true, then, that these clai 
pieces of corrupted flesh were ( 
the well-proportioned body of 
thai bare me ? Where then an 
tenier breaiti that ncNirifhed n 
fiuie^, and tiie amit widi ividol 
used to elasp me. Akal hf 
nothing left bat erawlinf loir 
llltik' and putrefution. How 
and fearful looln the naked 
Are these the smiles ! Is ^ 
ealniness of her eoantesav 
-^*Afthii! Here are the fa 



174 OF DEATH. 

expression of her love to me. Where 
are the lips which, as she blessed me, 
trembled and turned pale, as tlie sad 
forerunner of her charge ? Here is 
nothing but the orifice of her mouth, 
all full of clammy dust, with a 
frightful appearance of an imperfect 
row of teeth, which only serve to 
make the meager sight more dismal, 
and add liveliness to the horror. 

O loathsome state of all men in the 
grave ! I knew it was ill enough ; 
but at my opening the coffin, I little 
thought of such a disappointment : 
for instead of pale and ghastly looks, 
which I expected, I find no face at 
all, nor any thing else but an amtzing 
object of grief and wonder. Haste 
away, then, O my soul! from this 
(ilent room of dread and horror, aud 




OFDBATR. 175 

approach not the rest of these hrokei 
coffins here : thou haBt already seea 
enough to diBcouragv any farther 
search unong the filthy relicks of 
the dead. J will return to the soli- 
tary walk from whence I came, and 
there pursue my reflectiona on this 
melancholy adrenture, and take a 
farther prospect on the day of my 
death. O my soul I what hast thou 
now beeu seeing ! how fearful were 
all the ghastly appearances of yonder 
corpse [ How damp and earthy was 
the smell 1 What deadly mists of 
corrupted sweat exhaled from the 
■cn^>s of the deronred corpse I How 
full was the vault of cold and per- 
nicious steams, from each rotting 
carcaBB tliere 1 Now indeed I heliere 
tlic relation wUch t have rwd of a 




OF DEATH. 

nit, *'who was passionately 
a lady that soon after died ; 
Id not disengage his fancy 
lioughts of her, till at last 
ately to her vault, after a 
burial, he takes a full view 
ghastly deformities, and 
)at wipes off the corrupted 
from the carcass ; and so 
passion returned, he looked 
, and said, * Behold the 
the woman 1 did so mucli 
i^hich at last cured him of 
r fancies." Go, then, ye 
ate lovers of the world, 
chcs, and secure estates ; 
this, that at last the utmost 
all your wealth shall be a 
ioffin with gilt hinges. A 
haac to t\\Tv>\« v^.'wj V\w\\i 



OF DEATH. 177 

and ail immortal soul U|)un ! lu 
follow all the glittering fulliee uf the 
agC) tbat ye may at last be (^lutla'il 
with a little flanupl and a great dcid 
of corruption ! To gratify your luxu- 
rious appetites a while witli the 
pleasures of the most InsciouH faie 
that is, that you may prejiarc a 
carcass ready pampert;d fur the 
worms 1 Go, proud woman, if you 
can endure it, to an unliuried corpiii! 
of quality, that has lain hut a week 
above ground, and there see what all 
your perfumes will xt last come to, 
when your friends will keep from you 
to avoid the stench of your tainted 
hody. Be ambitious after worldly 
glory, and numerous titles of ap- 
plauded honour, and then take .St. 



w 



nncouiit lie tliere jfivos of ( 
Uiiricd body, the Kkull of wl 
found witli H toad in the mouth 
perhajiE, in the stme place. 
little did the emperor think c 
in the heiirht of his corquest 
the top of all his glory ! Sinci 
my Koul, death i^ so certain, m 
and i:j the ruin of worldly gra 
EQrely I am plainly distrnctei 
lipend cither my time or my thi 
about these worldly tiling's, th 
leave me eo certainly, and so 
I $ee, then, I must hetake myst 
mure earnest consideration c 
great concern. And since 1 si 
cnterei) upon this mournful Bi 
I will ^o through with it, 
jvv/ucc my mcilitation into pn 
that it ninv WA be \n ^un. 



OPBBATH. 179 

And that my tlioughts may be tlic 
nivre exact in this great affair, that 
they may not procfied only from fears 
and melancholy reflections, bnt bo 
guided by a rational inquiry, I irill 
go and rieit a friend of mine, who 
lived in great repute, bnt now lies 
upon bin dying bed, and I will ask 
him what he thinks of this world, 
and another P It is true, I doubt he 
had been bat little acqnunted with 
the other ; but 1 am sure he can 
give me an exact acconnt of this. 
Come then, my soul, let us pay « 
visit, which it is likely may be the 
last. I will nut be afr^d, for my 
late converse irith the dead will 
harden me beyond the reach of fear, 
nt the sight uf my dc^a^tuv^ 'w^vj:^- 
hour: and be6ide», \Mi\3ft.\ft* op.'^^i 



180 OFDMTH. 

and our near acquaintance see 
require the civility of a visit, w 
I aui rcEolved, if jiossiblc, to be s 
tied of a dying worldling's la^t 
ceptioiis of the world : for d 
men's thoughts of these things i 
aeedij he the clearest, since 
cease to be partial, and have 
truest ideas of wliat ia past, am 
most Bcoeible prospect of what 

What bitter groans are thei 
bear ! what fears of a dejected s 
have seizeil upon my friend ! Si 
this is not the usual temper of 
whom 1 have always known so j' 
and coura(!;eous 1 Why stand ye 
about hlni) ye lielpless muun 
Slid do not turn your iuBigni£ 
tearsnud mouinfuVVQuVs uAm v 



una consolatory advice in this si 
juncture of fears and terrors? I se 
here is no room for questions, no 
any opportunity of conversing witl 
him about mj intended sobleet : bat 
hark^ 1 hear him complain otwmtp 
Ahladetalce he has committed,'1|i 
e^lgiif his heart upon Hit wldeh wilt 
now be no longer his. 

O carsed estate ! that has onAlhse 

ne. Te base deeeitfol riches ! will 

ye leave me then at this Utter hoar 

>f distress ? Ungratefal world ! thlm 

mat had my hft*«^ ' 



182 OF DEATH. 

HOW falling into torments, never to 
come back again? O cruel, gnawing 
worm ! ^^ art thou come to torment 
me before my time?'' I was told 
indeed, by Him that might haye been 
my Saviour, of the never-dying rage 
of conscience in the burning lake : 
but I never feared it before my 
entrance thither ; and I questioned 
not to escape it there, by a timely 
repentance before my death : and 
behold now the intended time of my 
repentance is come, 1 have not now 
grace enough to offer up a devout 
prayer to that God whose service 
never used to be my business. Fain 
would I now repent, and cannot : all 
I can now do, is to curso my folly, 
and be sorry for the ensuing punish- 
ment of my sins ; and thus far the 



OF DBATU. 183 

tormented spirits do repent. I did 
intend, before this fatal hour came, 
to baye been very bountiful to the 
poor, and have purchased my peace 
with God at the price of a good part 
of my estate, fiut, O God ! 1 now 
perceive I must suffer for that very 
intention, in having such low thoughts 
of an Almighty God, as to expect he 
would be satisfied with money for the 
violation of his commands, and my 
distrust of his providence. 

O vain, bewitching pleasures ! will 
ye leave me thus ? When I was of 
late so eager in the chase of you, how 
little did I expect this dreadful hour, 
and these fears of hell, whicli now 
damp and embitter all my former 
sports and sensual pleasures ! O 
Ms is a sad hour, that puts an end 



r- 



^ 



^. 



,.,r «\uc>^ * * 1 tfw^e^* L not 
(..rsotten- * to *»*« " 

"^ ^' «\e9 of d'^'P' "ve of be« 



• tl4-\r 



OF DEATH. 



185 



fur Ikis wretched soul. No, did these 
desires of mine proceed from a 
true sense of the goodness of th^ 
God whom I have offended, they 
would argue my condition not so 
desperate : but I must confess, they 
are caused only by the fears of 
that dreadful punishment I am 
hastening to. How little did I once 
expect this deadness of heart, and 
these distractions in my sickness, 
when I designed it for the time of 
my repentance, and foolishly resolved 
to reconcile myself then to my 
slighted God ! Farewell then, all ye 
mourning friends about me, ye Job*8 
comforters, that cannot help me in 
my deplorable condition ! farewell 
for ever ! and remember the dying 
condition of a despairing sinner now 



m:: 



•••'>i.," ' 



LmAM 



18ft 



p DSilB- 



goinK to Odd'ft tri\iui«li*^**^«> 
comlemncJ for not ^* VOiVw^ o 
Ralvation with fear and tremblin 
But see, my soul, deatli now t 
to put a stop to his imperfect s|] 
and hinders tlic continuance i 
Had complaints : lo ! bis bitte 
cents end in coufused and un 
ligible cries, nhich seem to spei 
terrors that are within. Wl 
dismal combat is here betwis 
dismayed and fearful soul, am 
etrue^lin^ body ! 'JTliis dei 
terrible indeed ! I am now sai 
uf the opinion which careless 
hare of the world when they co 
die, and i^ive an impartial judj 
of it. It is true, many wre 
worldin^s (whose condition is ei 
des|>erat« vitii this coraplaintn 



^ ^.w wicnoutany of these ' 
disturbances, because they are st 
and not so sensible as he of 
approaching;;' miseries : but the 
dition of all who have lived like 
must needs be alike hopeless , th< 
they may seem to smother 1 
inward fears and sad dejectioi 
spirit. If, then, I do not take i 
to prevent the like cause of comph 
at my last hour, by a timely bidd 
adieu to all the hindrances of pie 
I shall then deserve those miseri 
the apprehensions of wi»5«»- 






amends for those sma for-'wUdl 
shall there receiye my doom. Could 
that indeed be obtained, the folly of ■ 
careless life would be the more ezca- 
sable : but once dead, and I am saved, 
or lost fur ever. I have but one tLf^e 
I to live, and shall I squander it away, 

IJ. and employ it about the trifles of an 

estate? Could that estate indeed 
purchase me those treasures in hea- 
ven, which God sent me hither to 
secure, it were worth my while to 
value it : but, instead of that, to 
forfeit those very treasures for the 
sake of it, and exchange away eter- 
nal happiness for the sake of a fen 
years* enjoyment here, is that n 
()arirain f^ir a wise man ? " O thai 
rich men wore wise, that they under 



OF DEATH. 



180 



Stood tikis, thsit they would consider 
their latter end !" 

What hinders then, O my soul! but 
that I may put these resolutions of pre- 
paring for death, even now, intoexecu- 
tion? It will make me melancholy, or 
at least disturb my pleasures. It will 
80, or else where is the benefit ? But 
after a little time, when piety is by a 
constant course become more familiar 
to me, the thoughts of death will then 
be sweet, and itself welcome. When 
I know myself prepared to enter into 
my Master's joy, I shall daily pant 
after my change^ and be ever ready 
to say, ** Lord, now lettest thou thy 
servant depart in peace, that mine 
c yes may see thy salvation!*' What 
then can hinder me ? It is time 
mough : but am I sure of that ? 



^ ■ — 



190 OF DEATH. 

and if not, is it the part of a wis^ 
man to venture the Iohs of heavei: 
upon uncertainties ? I have now 
time, but shall I always have it ? 
God calls me now, shall I trifle with 
him, and boldly tell him, since he has 
given me time enough, I will come 
at my leisure? God knows, the 
question is not, when shall I die? but, 
if it happen now, even whilst I am 
reading, am I now ready for it ? The 
wretch whom but now I visited, was 
undone (I heard him say so) by 
intending to repent. He had, he 
knew, a part to act, and he put it off 
till his taper was expiring, and then, 
Lord ! what a sad epilogue did he 
make ! Oh ! how he went trembling 
off the stage ! 



OP DEATH. 191 



THE PRATER. 

O God, thou great Redeemer of 
the world I who hy thy resurrection 
didst triumph over death, suffer it 
not to arrest me unawares ; but 
grant that I may live in a continual 
expectation of it, and so be prepared, 
not only to meet it, but even to bid it 
welcome, and receive it as a joyful 
messenger, sent to let me into thy 
palace, and crown me with life eter- 
nal. 1 am now, O God! resolved 
upon a daily contemplation of my 
last hour, and humbly implore thy 
grace to enable me to live as I shall 
then wish 1 had done. Thoa hast 
thought fit to conceal the hour from 
mc ; let me live then as if it were 




7 



O. B'^^-^*- 



not tca«V ^ uv tVve i»8 ^^t 
::Teare* evc»^j,^,, ^yJ«V^^, 

^d -e^^-g ig oC ^f^, .error; 
8*^vat\o« •.;",„ delay ^t*;„«a«e 





OF DEATH. 193 

fix my habitation in the world, since 
I know that I am hasteuin;^ away, 
and that the end of my journey will 
likewise put an end to all my designs. 
I am travelling to Canaan : O let 
me not set my heart so much upon 
the wilderness, as to forget the pro- 
mised land, and lose my hopes of 
entering into thy rest. But grant, 
thmt through the holiness of my life* 
Mid a daily prospect of my death, I 
may passionately wish for that happy 
hour, and meet it at last with the 
earnest prayer of thy beloved apostle, 
** Gome, Lord Jesus, come quickly.'* 
Amen. ^^,,_ ^ 

/. ' 

J. " 

I 



o 



PBNtTBMTIAL 
IIITATION UPOK TRB MBRtTt 
cubist's eUFFBRINGS. TR 

I.ATEU FROM THE LATIN OP 
(iBKAItD. 



Tub reproach of the crosB is 
glory of the Olirbtian ; and the 
of the humble soul conBists in 
hieediiig; wounds of a crucified 
viour. Our truest life depends ii 
hU death, and our highest honov 
his exaltation. lieavenly Fat 
O God omnipotent, how infinit 
thy mercy ! how tnuDScendent 
goodnesB ! It was owing to myi 
tiint I have offended thee ; i 
oiving to thysB)f,that thou wilt ki 
of nil atoneiueut, »»& tAmt < 



MEDITATION, &C. 195 

reconciliation, by the mediational sa- 
tisfaction of my Saviour. 

Vouchsafe therefore, O God ! to 
cast thine eyes upon the sacrifice of 
his flesh, that so thou mayest remid 
the guilt that proceeds from the de-> 
pravity of my own. Regard, I be- 
seech thee, the sufferings of thy 
beloved Son, and forget the miscar- 
riages of me, thy unworthy servant. 
My stubborn flesh has indeed pro- 
voked thine anger ! but oh ! let 
the expiatory sacrifice of thy Son's 
blood melt thee into pity. Much, I 
confess, my iniquities have deserved; 
but much more has my Redeemer's 
righteousness merited for me, and 
the innocence of his life satisfied for 
the guilt of mine. For by horn 
much greater is God iViMkTEaxk^V) %^ 



Ibulk of wiCBea.,„ 
it of my being is tUae by right 4 
f ation, grant that it mmy hm 
also by rigbt of affection. Thoi 
|ij ]: allowed me the privilege of ai 
give me also the benefit of recc 
Thou hast commanded me to 
grant that I may find. Thi 
{jlj rectest me to knock, open 
that now do. For thee I i 
the will to desire ; permit 
beseech thee, to obtain tlie b 
I ask. O righteous God ! < 
at Jiidire ! if I conceal m] 



I 



tni 



MBDITATIONy &C. 197 

fill me with fear, when I consider 
their end : but do not, I beseech tiiee 
restrain thy mercy, where the misery 
is confessed to be so inexpressibly 
^reat ; and by how much the sorer 
the burden of my sins is, by so much 
the more let me feel the refreshments 
of thy grace ; that so the greatness 
of thy supplies may be answerable to 
the greatness of my wants. Holy 
Father, let me not, I pray thee, feel 
the weight of thy wrath, since thou 
hast smitten thy Son for my transgres* 
sions : Holy Jesus, free me from the 
mnger of an incensed God, since thou 
thyself hast bonie that very anger in 
thy suflFerings on the cross : blessed 
Spirit, shield me, by the inyisible aid 
of thy ghostly consolation, against 
the displeasure of my God, since 

o2 



I 



i 






mercj to the pemi 
the weary and heafj-laden ^^alai 
Holy God 9 and my most rights 
Judge, I have no place to fly 
where 1 may avoid thy presenee» 
shelter myself from the reach of 
vengpeance. ^* If I go up into hemf 
thou art there : if I go down into 1 
thou art there also: if I take 
wings of the morning, and rema' 
the uttermost parts of the seap 
there shall thy hand lead mr 
*^^hv right hand shall hold me.*' 

" *lip.n will I flv- ttni 



MEDITATION, &C. 199 

me. Let thy Son's blood cleanse 
me from all unrighteousness, and 
vouchsafe, I beseech thee, to look 
upon me through that very Son of thy 
love: regard those passionate prayers 
he poured out upon the cross, and ac- 
cept those powerful intercessions that 
he offered up for all penitent sinners. 
Most holy Lord ! most omnipotent 
Judge I when I reflect upon my life, 
J am terrified with the reflection : for 
when I view it all over, I find, upon 
the strictest search I am able to 
make, that it is nothing but corrup- 
tion, or, at best, but a void and un- 
profitable waste ; or if there be any 
appearance of fruitfulness in it, it is 
either so counterfeit or defective, or 
one way or other attended with 
such a sensible mixture of the cor- 



in thy sight: in that I 
forced ta conclude, that m 
lire is sinful; knd, upon that 
siiljjcct tu n, state of domnt 
dxe uiijirofitabic, nnd eu n 
vnlucd at the bcBt. Nnj, ' 
sejMriito the unprofitable i 
damnable? since ifitbethi 
untiiiut escape tbe rigour of 
it being so peremptorily de 
the Gospel, "Thateyeryti 
bringeth not forth good frui 
into the fire;" and not i 



MBD1TATI0K» &C. 201 

at the left hand of the Jadge, fills me 
with terror, when I consider they 
underwent thai doom, not merely 
because they had done wickedly, but 
because they neglected to do good. 
It was because they neither fed the 
hungry, nor satisfied the thirsty; 
neither clothed the naked, nor visited 
the sick : and therefore, when from 
hence I proceed to look into myself, 
what sad reproach and self-condem- 
nation must I be filled with, and 
take upon myself this just complaint! 
O thou dry and barren wood, fit only 
for the fuel of unquenchable fire, 
what wilt thou answer for thyself in 
that day, when every minute part of 
thy life shall be weighed in the 
balance of an impartial justice, and a 
strict enquiry made how it has been 

o3 



202 A CONSOLATORY, PBNll-irJVTl^j^ 

spent? when *' not a hair of your 
head shall fall to the ground,*' nor m 
moment of thy time be unaccounCec/ 
for ? O dreadful strait ! O anguish 
insupportable f On the one hand, 
my sins accusing ; on the other, 
justice terrifying ! Beneath, a gaping 
hell, an infernal lake, ready to devour 
me ! Above me, an angry Grod, 
ready to pass sentence ! Within me 
the hidden remorse of a self-accusing 
conscience! Round about me, the 
material world melting into a liquid 
conflagration ! And in these cir- 
cumstances, if the righteous shall 
scarcely be saved, where shall the 
sinner, taken unprepared and laden 
with guilt, be able to appear ? It 
will be impossible to be concealed ; 
and yet to appear, will be altogether 



HBDITATION, 5cC. 203 

intolerable. And now, in these great 
exigencies and extremities of nature, 
where can I look for help ? or what 
salvation can I expect for my sinking 
soul ? What counsel shall I take ? 
what direction shall I follow ? Who, 
or where is he, that is by way of 
eminence and distinction stiled the 
Guardian Angel, the Almighty Sa- 
viour ? It is Jesus, my Judge, even 
within whose arms I tremble. 

But take heart, O my soul ! and do 
not quite despair: hope in him whom 
thou fearest ; fly to him from whom 
thou hast fled; and whilst thou art 
yet in the way, be reconciled to thy 
dear Redeemer. Blessed Jesu ! ac- 
cording to thy name, so be thy 
mercy. Jjook upon me, a miserable 
supplicant at the throne of thy grace, 



.Ml not m""" 

fO«l"*. " Ir 




P TBB BBNKFITi, &C. 205 



As often as I Gs my coDtemplaUoBH 
upon the Bufferings of our Lord, so 
often do I entertidn great things, 
both witii reaiiect to the lore of my 
God, Bud the pudon of my Bins. 
Nay, the very circumstances of my 
Saviour's death, are lively emblems 
of his mercy; iusomucb, thatwhen I 
behold his bead reclining od the 
cross, methiuks I see him ready to 
salute me. When I view his wide 
expanded arms, they seems to me as 
in a posture to embrace me. His 
open hands are representations of 
the benefits he is ready to bestow 
upon me ; ami Ma ^k^aixi^ A&ss\w^j\ 



'ITS 



,s love. H^ jg 

high, that he 
\ himself; nnd 
ut with blood, 
partake of the 
er. They look 
ruish, but tliey 

and through 
ounds \vc have 

of liis heart ; 
,d gore plainly 

him there is 
As the grape 



OF OUR lord's passion. 207 

offentled justice. Wiien Abrahtm 
WKB about to offer up h's son iu 
tacrifice to the Lord, the I^ord said, 
" Now know I that thou lovest me, 
seeio^ thou hast not withheld thy sun, 
thine only son, from me." And thou 
in like manner, O my soul I must for 
ever ac1<nowledge the unspealcBhle 
tove of thy eternal Father, since he 
has not spared his own Son, but 
freely gave him up for us all : so tbkt 
while we were yet sinners, we were 
reconciled unto Gud by the death of 
his Son. Is it possible then that lie 
should ever forg:et us, while he looks 
upon us through the Son of his love? 
Nay, can he ever forget that precious 
pledge of his Son's love, the ransom 
of bis blood, when be tells us. that 
" he puts our t«»iT* \vi.'wi\i«.>swS»«-, 



• vrr can uam»| 

woridy be e?er unmindftil 
for whom he liTes for erei 
interceBsion, and for whoi 
vouchsafe to die? Can h( 
forgetful of those in hea 
whose sake he endured 8u 
pressible tortures upon eart 
Consider then, O mj m 
great variety of ineffable Mi 
that accrue to thee upon 
score of thy Saviour's si 
Ghristour compassionate Hij 
sweat crreat drons of blood 



OF OUR L0RD*8 PASSION. 209 

death, that he might save us from 
the unexpressible miseries of eternal 
death, when we are contending with 
the last agonies of a temporal one. 
** His soul was exceeding sorrowful, 
even unto death,*' that we might live 
with him in heaven, and be crowned 
with ^* joy unspeakable, and full of 
glory." Ho suffered himself to be 
betrayed by a kiss, which is the 
pledge of love, and the token of 
affection, that he might cancel that 
guilt which the devil had brought 
upon our first parents, under the 
shew of officious counsel, and the 
specious appearance of a singular 
kindness. He submitted himself to 
be taken and bound, and led away as 
a malefactor, on purpose to release us 
from the chains of Satan, and free us 



210 



OP THB BBNBFIT8 



from the misery of an everlastinf^ 

captivity. He chose to enter upoii. 
his passion in the garden, that ho 

might expiate that original sin that 
was contracted in the garden. He 
was strengthed by an angel, that 
he might make us angelical, and rank 
us among the number of the sons of 
God. He was forsaken by his disci- 
ples, that we might, even after our 
shameful relapse into sin, be again 
reconciled to God. He was ac- 
cused by false witnesses, before the 
Jewish Sanhedrim, to prevent Satan*s 
accusing us before Cud's tribunal. 
He was condemned on earth, that we 
might be acquitted in heaven ; when 
he was accused before Pontius Pilate 
as guilty, who never knew sin, he was 
jilent, and opened not his mouth, to 



OF OUR L0RD*8 PASSION. 211 

the intent that we might not be 
found dumb and speechless, and 
utterly inexcusable, by reason of our 
sins, when we also shall be summoned 
to appear before the bar of God*8 
justice. He was buffetted by the 
rude rabble, and underwent cruel 
mockings, that we might be acquitted 
from the lashea of conscience and 
the buffettings of Satan, and so 
disappoint the malice of that subtle 
adversary, that lies in wait to deceive. 
His face was covered and blindfolded, 
that he might take away the veil of 
sin, which intercepts the sight of God 
from us, and is the fatal cause of that 
inexcusable ignorance which leads to 
a state of eternal darkness. He was 
clothed with external vestments, that 
we might be clothed with that robe of 



,.^^*^' 



212 OF THN BBNBPITl 

righteousnesB, and inward purity^ 
which we had lost by our traoB- 
gressions. He was torn with thonrs 
and cruel scourges, that he might 
heal our griefs and carry our sorrows. 
He bore the dolorous weight of the 
cross, that he might take off the heavy 
burden of that eternal punishment, 
which was the desert of our sin. He 
thirsted on the cross, that we might 
be cheered with the refreshing dew 
of divine grace, and be kept from 
coming into that place of torments, 
where we shall in vain call for a drop 
of water to cool our parched tongues. 
He endured the incensed wrath of an 
angry God, that he might rescue us 
from those devouring flames which 
cannot be quenched. He cried out for 
grief and very bitterness of soul , on 




OF OUR lord's passion* 213 

purpose to save us from eternal weep- 
ingt wailing, and gnashing of teeth, 
fie shed plenty of tears, that he might 
wipe off all tears from our eyes ; and 
at last closed his eyes in death, that 
we might awake to righteousness, 
and enjoy the light of everlasting life. 
Take courage, then, O my soul ! 
and do not either forget the benefits, 
or cast off thy humble confidence in 
thy adorable Redeemer : for though 
thou hast offended against an infinite 
goodness, yet remember, that an 
infinite price is paid down for the 
offenee. Thou art, indeed to be 
judged for thy iniquities, but he that 
bore the iniquities of us all, has 
himself already been judged. If 
then thy sins deserve punishment, 
remember that God has punished 






214 OF THB BENEFITS 9 &C. 

them in his Son. If thy wouuds 
great and many, yet they are not ^^ 
numerous and incurable, but that thd/' 
may be cancelled and healed by the 
precious balsam of the blood of 
Christ. Moses, indeed, has pro- 
nounced a curse upon thee, for not 
observing all things that were written 
in the book of the law ; but Christ is 
become a curse for thee, and the 
hand-writing that was agunst thee, is 
nailed to the cross, and blotted out 
by the laver of thy Saviour s blood. 
Most justly therefore, sweet Jesus ! 
may I look upon thy passion and 
death, as the last best refuge of my 
depending soul. Gloria Deo. 

THE END. 

BATH ^-A. K. BINNB, CRBAP STRXET. 




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